Podcasters can Laruanbreathe easy this week, after a court shut down an invalid patent threatening their craft.
The case was being fought by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, who have closely watched the status of a supposed patent for podcasting, owned by a company called Personal Audio. The patent's been threatening the act of creating podcasts for a while, now, with Personal Audio attempting to go after popular creators and major networks, The Next Webreported.
SEE ALSO: How the podcast boom is finally forcing radio to become more diverseThe EFF first challenged the patent in court in 2013, asking the court to take a second look at it. At the same time, they launched the "Save Podcasting Campaign," which they say received donations from over 1,000 people.
Though the court invalidated the challenged claims of the patent in 2015, the decision was challenged by Personal Audio. Still, the court sided with the EFF, ruling that the patent wasn't representative of an invention.
"We’re pleased that the Federal Circuit agreed that the podcasting patent is invalid," said Daniel Nazer, a staff attorney at EFF and the Mark Cuban Chair to Eliminate Stupid Patents. "We appreciate all the support the podcasting community gave in fighting this bad patent."
Personal Audio claimed that their patent covered all forms of podcasting, giving them the supposed basis for lawsuits filed against entities ranging from CBS and NBC, to HowStuffWorks, to, uh, Adam Carolla. The petition filed by EFF showed that podcasting had actually been practiced at least a year prior to Personal Audio applying for that patent.
Despite the EFF win, Personal Audio could still push back.
"Although we’re happy that this patent is still invalid, Personal Audio could seek review at the Supreme Court," said Vera Ranieri, a staff attorney at EFF. "We’ll be there if they do."
Topics Innovations
How to unblock Xnxx for free
NBC's Peacock app was a popular Olympics download, but it was a mess
Foo Fighters 'troll' Westboro Baptist Church with love and disco
Why the Dixie Fire won't stop burning
Best robot vacuum deal: Save $140 on roborock Q7 Max Robot Vacuum
Nigella Lawson says women of her generation were taught they shouldn't make men feel rejected
Women's March 2018: All the best signs
Pentagon’s proposed nuclear strategy elevates cyberattacks to a terrifying new realm
Sony launches new flagship XM6 headphones: Order them now
Foo Fighters 'troll' Westboro Baptist Church with love and disco
Best smartwatch deal: Save $40 on the Fitbit Versa 4
Will Smith's excellent, very Instagrammed Australian adventure
Barack Obama shares birthday Instagram message for Michelle
Who is Captain Britain? The secret history of the MCU's new superhero
10 Tech Predictions for 2017
'The Kissing Booth 3' has no conflict, and that's actually great
'Grace and Frankie' are back as Netflix drops surprise episodes of final season
Trump's face on a stack of newspapers gets a newsworthy Photoshop battle
Final Fantasy XV Mega CPU Battle
Um, did Barack Obama win HQ Trivia last night?
My Gender Is Masha GessenOur Contributors’ Favorite Books of 2020 by The Paris ReviewRedux: You Would If by The Paris ReviewVanitas by Jordan KisnerHome by Nadia OwusuFuck the Bread. The Bread Is Over. by Sabrina Orah MarkWhy Do We Keep Reading ‘The Great Gatsby’?The Eleventh Word by Lulu MillerInhale the DarknessThe Fabulous Forgotten Life of Vita SackvilleOur Contributors’ Favorite Books of 2020 by The Paris ReviewWays to Open a Door: An Interview with Destiny Birdsong by Claire SchwartzPainted Ladies by Camille DungyStaff Picks: Heaven, Hearing Trumpets, and Hong Sang(Dead) Birds of America by The Paris ReviewCakes and AleAmerica’s First Connoisseur by Edward WhiteRedux: Her Ticking Wrist by The Paris ReviewNo Walk Is Ever Wasted by Matthew BeaumontRedux: A Point of Coincidence by The Paris Review Aaron Paul looking confused at a fashion show makes for the ultimate Photoshop battle 9 reasons you should celebrate National Orgasm Day by having an orgasm George and Amal Clooney to help 3,000 Syrian refugee children go to school Reminisce about floppy disks and CRT monitors with these retro tech Lego models What does Bran Stark know about Sansa that we don't? Mark Zuckerberg's foundation hired a top presidential pollster The Reese's Peanut Butter Doughnut is about to hit Krispy Kreme All about the multiverse in Stephen King's 'The Dark Tower' Latest 'Final Fantasy XV' update lets you dress up like an invincible badass Hyperloop One's latest tests broke all of its speed records 'Twin Peaks' has a new 'Who killed Laura Palmer?': Where is Agent Cooper? Google's Daydream VR platform is now on Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ How Tastemade has eaten the internet with Facebook and Snapchat Kuri robot can now capture and share the moments you missed Snapchat wants to buy selfie drone company, report says Which one of you purchased the $109 Arcade Fire fidget spinner? 'Game of Thrones' has become so self Rosé gin exists because y'all have a rosé problem Subway wizard barely pays attention to the Rubik's Cube he solves with one hand This VC firm just made its 50th investment in underrepresented founders