At InterNext, on Jan 5th (Monday) at 4pm is the Patent Panel with Spike, Greg Clayman, and myself.
The topic is to talk about how patents affect the Adult Industry and how to deal with them.
On one hand, you have the point that the industry should unite together, to form a common defense. Banding together can help to reduce the financial expenses of a lawsuit, as well as helping to take a stand (ie. Defense Fund/Defense Group/IMPA).
The threats of patent lawsuits are not limited to Acacia, and we may very well see adult industry players having their own patent lawsuits.
On the other side, you have the other point that businesses will react and do what is in their best interest. Should it mean paying the license, it's their business decision to do so.
The fundamental issue for the patent panel and even in this discussion between the two points, is really, do webmasters even care to band together? or will they all act as an island unto themselves and do what's best for them individually?
When you are faced with a company that has deeper pockets and a litigious agenda, it is very intimidating and daunting for a smaller company to be able to fight.
So maybe those with deeper pockets could afford to pay a license... but for the vast majority that don't, what are their options?
It is a grave abuse of patent and civil law when an entity can literally roll-over a company because they don't have the ability to fight.
This is why the ACLU and EFF were formed, to help the little guy fight against injustice.
And this is why i proposed Fight the Patent Foundation... but as we have all seen by the counter...the level of support has not been there...which gives an informal conclusion that webmasters will just deal with these stiffling issues on their own...
The current 11 defendants Feb 6th court day is certainly promising, and many are sitting on the sidelines waiting for that day.. but as you have seen by the topic of this thread, Acacia has added more lawsuits, and have proposed 2 class action lawsuits.
The entire Adult Industry will be adversely affected if the judge grants the class action status.
Even then, knowing that EVERY adult company is involved now, won't necessarily make companies rally together. It's just like public radio and PBS....many will watch/listen for free while others contribute to the funding.
With the large attendences of InterNext...I hope all webmasters will jam pack the Patent Panel to listen to what the panelists have to say, to listen to what your fellow webmasters have to say, and to voice your own thoughts and opinions.
Fight the Ostriches!
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