Apple Sued for the Sale of Video Programming on iTunes

Patently Apple ^ | September 22, 2010

[WVKayaker]

...not having to answer the same question multiple times from people that are too lazy to read the post.

OR YOUR ...not having to answer the same question multiple times from people that you, who are too lazy to read the post ARTICLE.

You like to download music TO DEFEAT PURCHASE of SAME and you are mad at Apple because they do things to thwart your efforts.

Poor baby... go back to your mom's basement and leave the men and women alone!

[antiRepublicrat]

So, Yes I have good reason to dislike Apple and their troublesome and time consuming copy protection schemes.

The iTunes Store hasn't had copy protection on music for a while. And AFAIK, all legal video services use some sort of copy protection.

[antiRepublicrat]

Here are the steps of claim 20 for processing a video program:

• receiving an input video program having an audio component and a video component without any added redundant frames or fields;
• converting the input video component of the input program into a an internal production format having a predetermined frame rate of substantially 24 frames per second (fps) and an image dimension in pixels, when the program is not received in such a format;
• providing a high-capacity digital audio/video storage means storing the program in the production format in the high-capacity storage means medium, and storing the program in the production format;
• displaying the video program on the color monitor using the predetermined frame rate and image dimensions in pixels, including cropped versions of the program, with the extent of the cropping being visually evident on the monitor;
• accessing the program in the production format from the high-capacity storage means medium; and
• manipulating the program to create a desired edited version of the program in an output format, including an output format having a frame rate and image dimensions in pixels different from that of the production format;
• and outputting the desired edited version of the program in the output format. greater than or equal to the frame rate of the production format

They basically patented the general idea of storing video and outputting it at different resolutions, framerates and cropping on demand. Basically, this is taking most video processing programs and running your 24fps source through standard crop, telecine and resize filters.

That this patent was even granted shows the sad state of our patent system.

[bert]

I down loaded the I phone software yesterday. Wonder if they will include me in the suit as “all persons in active concert or participation with them.”

[TheBattman]

has further asked the court to consider tripling the damages accessed if the damages are not found by a jury

What the heck kind of legal mumbo-jumbo is that? If the jury does NOT find damages, then they ask the court to TRIPLE damages? What??? is that kind of like "Heads I win, tails you lose?"

[TheBattman]

When was the patent granted? Such details and processes have been in use for a very long time in the area of video production... particularly on the Macintosh platform...

[TheBattman]

Incidentally, I purchase MP3s from eMusic.com, and rip MP3s from my own CDs and vinyl. The MP3s play perfectly fine on all my players -- one from Samsung, one from Apple, and one from Neuros called an HD from a few years back.

Details, details... don't confuse the haters with details (and the truth)... it just makes them mad.

[TheBattman]

Lest we forget what got Apple into the DRM business in the first place - it was a requirement many of the publishers/labels required to give them license to carry/sell their music and videos. The labels were very skeptical of online sales of their material in digital downloadable format. They demanded security to prevent piracy (which of course is a moving target at best). What I find interesting is that those same labels have not required the same protection from other sellers (Amazon being one).

[antiRepublicrat]

Filed in 98, issued in 03. Running a source video through a series of filters including telecine (frame rate change from 24fps) and resize to achieve the desired effect dates at least back to the mid 90s for computers.

[antiRepublicrat]

What I find interesting is that those same labels have not required the same protection from other sellers

Jobs had already gotten one label to agree to non-DRM music before the Amazon store beta appeared. Eventually they all agreed.

[Swordmaker]

I down loaded the I phone software yesterday. Wonder if they will include me in the suit as “all persons in active concert or participation with them.”

They're lawyers. How deep are your pockets???

[Swordmaker]

They basically patented the general idea of storing video and outputting it at different resolutions, framerates and cropping on demand. Basically, this is taking most video processing programs and running your 24fps source through standard crop, telecine and resize filters.

Yup... something that has been done since Movies were being sent to TV... at 30 frames per second in less than widescreen. Note also that this is a process that Apple does not do... it is done by the companies that convert the movies to digital format and place them on either DVD, BluRay, or digital HD storage formats from whatever original 24 frame per second format they were recorded in... film, analogue video or what have you. This invention—if valid,which I doubt, since they really don't tell how they accomplish this feat, just that it can be done—simply does not apply to Apple any more than it would apply to any cable, satellite or other provider who sends a movie that winds up being displayed on a TV that is shown at a display that is other than the original width or aspect ratio in pixel sizes.

[Swordmaker]

What the heck kind of legal mumbo-jumbo is that? If the jury does NOT find damages, then they ask the court to TRIPLE damages? What??? is that kind of like "Heads I win, tails you lose?"

I think what you have there is a failure of editing and writing...