MyDD :: Verizon Patents the Internet?

Verizon Patents the Internet?

by Matt Stoller, Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 02:57:05 PM EST

This is a rather large deal. Verizon is driving Vonage out of business by claiming in court that it has intellectual property rights over the internet. With an upcoming spectrum fight at the FCC, it's worth keeping this absurd and monopolistic behavior in mind.

Tags: net neutrality, Democrats, Verizon (all tags)

Permalink :: 7 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Verizon Patents the Internet? (none / 0)

Couldn't agree more as I sit here on a conference call on my Vonage phone.

I hope to hear more about it on MYDD.

Don't hate the media, become the media. -- Jello Biafra

by Orlando on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 03:26:55 PM EST

Re: Verizon Patents the Internet? (none / 0)

big wireless carriers have crippled america. voice over ip isn't that tough to do. try doing voice analysis one day..

i am not sure but I think verizon just drove vonage out of business. if they didn't please let me know..?

.. and when I win the lottery, gonna donate half my money to the city so they have to name a school or a park after me - camper van beethoven

by heyAnita on Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 03:04:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Verizon Patents the Internet? (none / 0)

The new Vonage CEO, Jeffrey Citron, was accused of stock manipulation by the SEC back in 2003. He never admitted guilt, but paid $22.5 Million dollars. Not sure there's a good guy in this fight.

Here's a more detailed look at the patents:

http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/Vonage

Florida Netroots

by meowmissy on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 04:26:37 PM EST

Re: Verizon Patents the Internet? (none / 0)

I believe that a jury found Vonage guity of infringing the patent.

I know engadget has cover this a little.

The big deal is that the judge ruled that Vonage can not sign up any new customers until this matter is resolved...

by lutton on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 04:29:11 PM EST

Re: Verizon Patents the Internet? (none / 0)

This case underscores the problems in our patent system and the risks that these problems can be exploited for anti-competitive purposes--particularly by incumbent access providers--in the Internet space. It also highlights the importance of patent reform.

These two articles have some helpful comments on this issue, but still leave a lot of questions unanswered about exactly what kind of patent-system reform is desirable (not to mention the political questions of how to make it happen). Anyone know anything about patent-reform groups out there and what their views are?

http://news.com.com/Is+cable+in+Verizons +crosshairs/2100-7352_3-6175725.html?tag =nefd.lede
http://gigaom.com:80/2007/04/08/voip-pat ent-mess/

by mitchipd on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 04:52:08 PM EST

Re: Verizon Patents the Internet? (3.00 / 1)

Here a larger thread over at slashdot. If you ask me the headline here is a little misleading, and the reporter who wrote that story seems a bit confused.

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=0 7/04/03/1410230

by wiretapp on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:04:32 PM EST

Re: Verizon Patents the Internet? (none / 0)

Oh c'mon, this is just shoddy blogging. Verizon is not claim to have invented or patented the Internet. The 7 patents Verizon claims are, according to CNet:

Verizon's complaint was filed last Monday in a U.S. District Court in Virginia. It alleges that Vonage infringed on patents held by Verizon that describe technology for completing phone calls between VoIP users and people using phones on the traditional public switched network, authenticating VoIP callers, validating VoIP callers' accounts, fraud protection, providing enhanced features, using Wi-Fi handsets with VoIP services and monitoring VoIP caller usage.

http://news.com.com/Verizon+sues+Vonage+ for+VoIP+patent+infringement/2100-7352_3 -6085396.html

by WADem on Mon Apr 16, 2007 at 07:40:05 PM EST

You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.