Politech: Are RIAA and its allies violating two Altnet patents?

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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From: "Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com>
To: "Declan McCullagh" <declan () well com>
Subject: (SPAM?) Is the RIAA and friends violating two Altnet patents?
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 17:17:37 -0500


<http://biz.yahoo.com/pz/031111/48047.html>http://biz.yahoo.com/pz/031111/48047.html

Press Release Source: Altnet

Altnet Issues Legal Notices for Patent Infringement Occurring on File 
Sharing Networks
Tuesday November 11, 3:41 pm ET
Altnet Warns Companies Including BigChampagne, MediaDefender and Overpeer 
to Cease Infringing Activities
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Nov. 11, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Altnet, a subsidiary 
of Brilliant Digital Entertainment 
(AMEX:<http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=bde>BDE - 
<http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=bde>News), the leading provider of secure 
digital media via Internet and peer-to-peer (P2P) technologies, announced 
today that it has issued notices to nine companies, including BigChampagne, 
Ranger Online, MediaDefender, Overpeer and MediaSentry, warning them to 
cease engaging in activities that Altnet believes constitute patent 
infringement.





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Altnet believes these companies have been using its patented TrueNames 
file-identifying technology to spoof, track or interdict files on file 
sharing networks, and that the technology was used improperly to identify 
people sharing files who were then sued for copyright infringement.
``We continue to focus on protecting and commercializing our patented 
technology and realizing the potential it offers content owners by 
commercializing peer-to-peer networks,'' said Derek Broes, Altnet's 
executive vice president of worldwide operations. ``These companies are 
using Altnet's patented technology without Altnet's permission to spoof, 
track and interdict shared files.''
Altnet's TrueNames technology facilitates the identification of unique 
files on a massively distributed network by using a unique file hash 
identifier that enables one to track, retrieve, monitor and charge for the 
distribution of content. TrueNames is a method of identifying data based on 
the actual content of a file, rather than by the file name, origin, 
location, address or other information that can be easily changed. A unique 
identifier, or hash, is assigned to the data using an algorithm in a 
process protected by U.S. Patents Nos. 5,978,791 and 6,415,280, both of 
which have been exclusively licensed to Altnet for peer-to-peer applications.
``Altnet acquired the TrueNames patents in order to build a commercial 
solution for P2P operators and content owners. The patent should not be 
used improperly for any reason,'' added Broes. ``That it is being used 
without permission in order to research or interfere with the infringement 
of others' intellectual property is ironic.''
About Altnet

Altnet is the leading peer-to-peer distributor of secure digital media that 
originates from content owners. Altnet reaches an estimated 100 million 
users and is the #1 issuer of rights managed music in the world. Altnet's 
products integrate with websites, applications, and peer-to-peer networks 
to allow Internet users to simply and easily locate, download, preview and 
purchase digital content. Altnet is a subsidiary of Brilliant Digital 
Entertainment (AMEX:<http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=bde>BDE - 
<http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=bde>News).
CONTACTS:  Weber Shandwick
           Anne Burkhimer
           (310) 407-6568
           <mailto:aburkhimer () webershandwick com>aburkhimer () webershandwick com

           Gaby Romero
           (310) 407-6586
           <mailto:gromero () webershandwick com>gromero () webershandwick com



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