asterisk users - Oct 2005 - Sprint Nextel sueing over VoIP patents

Sprint Nextel is sueing vonage, voiceglo and theglobe.com for infringing
on VoIP patents.  Sprint Nextel claims to have about 100 patents on VoIP
technologies.  Does anyone know which ones this article is talking
about, and if so does asterisk have any of those features?  

The reason I am asking is that the article is vague, Vonage uses a
fairly standard codec set, I dont know about the others.  So if its not
codecs I wonder if its something so generic that the patent would be
tossed out upon challenge.  

Anyone thinking about doing a VoIP business may want to get more info
before proceeding since they may not have the millinos vonage has to
fight this.

http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2005/10/03/daily23.html
-- 
Trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com     Bret McDanel
UK +44 870 340 4605   Germany +49 801 777 555 3402
US +1 360 207 0479 or +1 516 687 5200
FreeWorldDialup: 635378
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trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com wrote:
> Anyone thinking about doing a VoIP business may want to get more info
> before proceeding since they may not have the millinos vonage has to
> fight this.
Unless of course they don't live in the United Sue'ers of America.

:D

-- 
Cheers,

Matt Riddell
_______________________________________________

http://www.sineapps.com/news.php (Daily Asterisk News - html)
http://www.sineapps.com/rssfeed.php (Daily Asterisk News - rss)

trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com [trixter@0xdecafbad.com]
wrote:
> Sprint Nextel is sueing vonage, voiceglo and theglobe.com for infringing
> on VoIP patents.  Sprint Nextel claims to have about 100 patents on VoIP
> technologies.  Does anyone know which ones this article is talking
> about, and if so does asterisk have any of those features?
> 
> The reason I am asking is that the article is vague, Vonage uses a
> fairly standard codec set, I dont know about the others.  So if its not
> codecs I wonder if its something so generic that the patent would be
> tossed out upon challenge. 
> 
> Anyone thinking about doing a VoIP business may want to get more info
> before proceeding since they may not have the millinos vonage has to
> fight this. 
> 
Marvellous.  Another company with a monopoly over aspects of VoIP
technology.  I don't have the millions required to mount a defence
in a North American court, so I should just consider myself lucky that
I live in a free country.

-- 
   _/   _/  _/_/_/_/  _/    _/  _/_/_/  _/    _/
  _/_/_/   _/_/      _/    _/    _/    _/_/  _/   K e v i n   W a l s h
 _/ _/    _/          _/ _/     _/    _/  _/_/    kevin@cursor.biz
_/   _/  _/_/_/_/      _/    _/_/_/  _/    _/

Depending upon the patents in question, a few companies (Cisco comes to 
mind) may have prior art here.  I know that a company cisco bought was 
doing VoIP in 1998, but no indications of which patents this is, or when 
they were filed.

Paul

trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com wrote:
> Sprint Nextel is sueing vonage, voiceglo and theglobe.com for infringing
> on VoIP patents.  Sprint Nextel claims to have about 100 patents on VoIP
> technologies.  Does anyone know which ones this article is talking
> about, and if so does asterisk have any of those features?  
> 
> The reason I am asking is that the article is vague, Vonage uses a
> fairly standard codec set, I dont know about the others.  So if its not
> codecs I wonder if its something so generic that the patent would be
> tossed out upon challenge.  
> 
> Anyone thinking about doing a VoIP business may want to get more info
> before proceeding since they may not have the millinos vonage has to
> fight this.
> 
>
http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2005/10/03/daily23.html
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> _______________________________________________
> --Bandwidth and Colocation sponsored by Easynews.com --
> 
> Asterisk-Users mailing list
> Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
> http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit:
>    http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users

At 2:43 PM -0700 10/4/05, trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com
wrote:
>
>Sprint Nextel is sueing vonage, voiceglo and theglobe.com for infringing
>on VoIP patents.  Sprint Nextel claims to have about 100 patents on VoIP
>technologies.  Does anyone know which ones this article is talking
>about, and if so does asterisk have any of those features? 
>
>The reason I am asking is that the article is vague, Vonage uses a
>fairly standard codec set, I dont know about the others.  So if its not
>codecs I wonder if its something so generic that the patent would be
>tossed out upon challenge. 
>
>Anyone thinking about doing a VoIP business may want to get more info
>before proceeding since they may not have the millinos vonage has to
>fight this.
>
>http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2005/10/03/daily23.html
>--
>Trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com     Bret McDanel
>UK +44 870 340 4605   Germany +49 801 777 555 3402
>US +1 360 207 0479 or +1 516 687 5200
>FreeWorldDialup: 635378


This perhaps is quite relevant to the Asterisk community.

While I don't know the specifics about Vonage, I do know that they 
have been rumored to have (in the past, or present) used Asterisk in 
their core for some services.  (Voicemail?  Conference?  Messages?) 
This, however, is not confirmed.

http://www.ilocus.com/ui_dataFiles/news18aug05.htm
http://www.google.com/search?num=50&hl=en&lr=&newwindow=1&safe=off&c2coff=1&q=%22vonage+uses+asterisk%22&btnG=Search

According to public information, Voiceglo uses IAX and Asterisk:

  http://lists.digium.com/pipermail/asterisk-users/2004-February/036311.html
  http://www.business2.com/b2/web/articles/0,17863,1059204,00.html

FYI: Voiceglo and theglobe.com are the same company for all intents 
and purposes.

Therefore, I am very interested to see if this is merely 
co-incidental or if there is a reason that Sprint picked out two 
providers that use Asterisk in their core.  Despite hysteria or 
misinformation on this (and other) lists, there is no direct 
information that I've seen that this is Sprint making a blanket 
patent lawsuit against anyone using VoIP.  Perhaps this is just some 
specific feature that they have a legitimate patent on which has been 
infringed.  I doubt this is a codec patent issue, nor an equipment 
patent issue (as previously discussed on -biz list.)

Is there anyone with better detail on the lawsuit specifics able to comment?

JT

I'll start with the disclaimer that I am not an attorney... nor do I
play one on TV...

But, a search of the US Patent & Trademark Office reveals 13 patents
assigned to Sprint that deal with VoIP. (http://www.uspto.gov/)

6947411
6944150
6937869
6909690
6870857
6868081
6865398
6741695
6731735
6697097
6681116
6556826
6373930

Of particular interest are the '9690, '4150, '1695, '3930
patents.

'9690 is a patent on call admission control using silence suppression to
better utilize network bandwidth. Specifically, it seems to deal with a
method to apply adaptive silence suppression at the customer site...
presumably in the ATA.

'4150 is a patent on a 'gateway' layer to be implemented between a
customer and the communications network as a means of offering and
controlling services offered as well as optimizing the deliver of those
services.

'1695 is a patent on a method to interface packet-based and
circuit-switched networks. It specifically mentions SIP and other
protocols and how to interface them to signaling and voice paths in a
circuit-switched network.

Finally, '3930 is a patent on a method to 'redirect' call setup
through
a third party for the purposes of service restriction or authorization.
Basically it's a method of implementing pre-paid service on a packet
network.


The only one that seems to me that would directly apply to the *
community may be the '4150 or '1695 patents. But I don't know enough
about patent law to know if it would be worth their time or if they
would even have a case.

There *maybe* something there too with some of the prepaid modules, like
AstCC, if they could argue it was hosted on a separate system. Again, I
don't know enough of the specifics to make an educated guess.

OK... now that I did my part to add to the FUD, maybe somebody that
knows more can build on what I found.

Jason


-----Original Message-----
From: asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of John Todd
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 3:05 PM
To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
Cc: asterisk-biz@lists.digium.com
Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] Sprint Nextel sueing over VoIP patents

At 2:43 PM -0700 10/4/05, trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com
wrote:
>
>Sprint Nextel is sueing vonage, voiceglo and theglobe.com for
infringing
>on VoIP patents.  Sprint Nextel claims to have about 100 patents on
VoIP
>technologies.  Does anyone know which ones this article is talking
>about, and if so does asterisk have any of those features? 
>
>The reason I am asking is that the article is vague, Vonage uses a
>fairly standard codec set, I dont know about the others.  So if its not
>codecs I wonder if its something so generic that the patent would be
>tossed out upon challenge. 
>
>Anyone thinking about doing a VoIP business may want to get more info
>before proceeding since they may not have the millinos vonage has to
>fight this.
>
>http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2005/10/03/daily23
.html
>--
>Trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com     Bret McDanel
>UK +44 870 340 4605   Germany +49 801 777 555 3402
>US +1 360 207 0479 or +1 516 687 5200
>FreeWorldDialup: 635378


This perhaps is quite relevant to the Asterisk community.

While I don't know the specifics about Vonage, I do know that they 
have been rumored to have (in the past, or present) used Asterisk in 
their core for some services.  (Voicemail?  Conference?  Messages?) 
This, however, is not confirmed.

http://www.ilocus.com/ui_dataFiles/news18aug05.htm
http://www.google.com/search?num=50&hl=en&lr=&newwindow=1&safe=off&c2cof
f=1&q=%22vonage+uses+asterisk%22&btnG=Search

According to public information, Voiceglo uses IAX and Asterisk:

 
http://lists.digium.com/pipermail/asterisk-users/2004-February/036311.ht
ml
  http://www.business2.com/b2/web/articles/0,17863,1059204,00.html

FYI: Voiceglo and theglobe.com are the same company for all intents 
and purposes.

Therefore, I am very interested to see if this is merely 
co-incidental or if there is a reason that Sprint picked out two 
providers that use Asterisk in their core.  Despite hysteria or 
misinformation on this (and other) lists, there is no direct 
information that I've seen that this is Sprint making a blanket 
patent lawsuit against anyone using VoIP.  Perhaps this is just some 
specific feature that they have a legitimate patent on which has been 
infringed.  I doubt this is a codec patent issue, nor an equipment 
patent issue (as previously discussed on -biz list.)

Is there anyone with better detail on the lawsuit specifics able to
comment?

JT
_______________________________________________
--Bandwidth and Colocation sponsored by Easynews.com --

Asterisk-Users mailing list
Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
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   http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users

Before people jump at the abstracts, remember that patent abstracts are very
generic, and later they must be more specific.  I am away this week but if its
not answered by next I will look into it more, maybe there will be more news,
maybe ill check pacer for the filing...


-----Original Message-----
    From: "Gleim, Jason"<jgleim@ats-ohio.com>
    Sent: 10/5/05 2:05:44 PM
    To: "Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial
Discussion"<asterisk-users@lists.digium.com>
    Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Sprint Nextel sueing over VoIP patents
      I'll start with the disclaimer that I am not an attorney... nor do I
    play one on TV...
    
    But, a search of the US Patent & Trademark Office reveals 13 patents
    assigned to Sprint that deal with VoIP. (http://www.uspto.gov/)
    
    6947411
    6944150
    6937869
    6909690
    6870857
    6868081
    6865398
    6741695
    6731735
    6697097
    6681116
    6556826
    6373930
    
    Of particular interest are the '9690, '4150, '1695, '3930
patents.
    
    '9690 is a patent on call admission control using silence suppression to
    better utilize network bandwidth. Specifically, it seems to deal with a
    method to apply adaptive silence suppression at the customer site...
    presumably in the ATA.
    
    '4150 is a patent on a 'gateway' layer to be implemented between
a
    customer and the communications network as a means of offering and
    controlling services offered as well as optimizing the deliver of those
    services.
    
    '1695 is a patent on a method to interface packet-based and
    circuit-switched networks. It specifically mentions SIP and other
    protocols and how to interface them to signaling and voice paths in a
    circuit-switched network.
    
    Finally, '3930 is a patent on a method to 'redirect' call setup
through
    a third party for the purposes of service restriction or authorization.
    Basically it's a method of implementing pre-paid service on a packet
    network.
    
    
    The only one that seems to me that would directly apply to the *
    community may be the '4150 or '1695 patents. But I don't know
enough
    about patent law to know if it would be worth their time or if they
    would even have a case.
    
    There *maybe* something there too with some of the prepaid modules, like
    AstCC, if they could argue it was hosted on a separate system. Again, I
    don't know enough of the specifics to make an educated guess.
    
    OK... now that I did my part to add to the FUD, maybe somebody that
    knows more can build on what I found.
    
    Jason
    
    
    -----Original Message-----
    From: asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com
    [mailto:asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of John Todd
    Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 3:05 PM
    To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
    Cc: asterisk-biz@lists.digium.com
    Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] Sprint Nextel sueing over VoIP patents
    
    At 2:43 PM -0700 10/4/05, trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com wrote:
    >
    >Sprint Nextel is sueing vonage, voiceglo and theglobe.com for
    infringing
    >on VoIP patents.  Sprint Nextel claims to have about 100 patents on
    VoIP
    >technologies.  Does anyone know which ones this article is talking
    >about, and if so does asterisk have any of those features? 
    >
    >The reason I am asking is that the article is vague, Vonage uses a
    >fairly standard codec set, I dont know about the others.  So if its not
    >codecs I wonder if its something so generic that the patent would be
    >tossed out upon challenge. 
    >
    >Anyone thinking about doing a VoIP business may want to get more info
    >before proceeding since they may not have the millinos vonage has to
    >fight this.
    >
    >http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2005/10/03/daily23
    .html
    >--
    >Trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com     Bret McDanel
    >UK +44 870 340 4605   Germany +49 801 777 555 3402
    >US +1 360 207 0479 or +1 516 687 5200
    >FreeWorldDialup: 635378
    
    
    
    This perhaps is quite relevant to the Asterisk community.
    
    While I don't know the specifics about Vonage, I do know that they 
    have been rumored to have (in the past, or present) used Asterisk in 
    their core for some services.  (Voicemail?  Conference?  Messages?) 
    This, however, is not confirmed.
    
    http://www.ilocus.com/ui_dataFiles/news18aug05.htm
   
http://www.google.com/search?num=50&hl=en&lr=&newwindow=1&safe=off&c2cof
    f=1&q=%22vonage+uses+asterisk%22&btnG=Search
    
    According to public information, Voiceglo uses IAX and Asterisk:
    
     
    http://lists.digium.com/pipermail/asterisk-users/2004-February/036311.ht
    ml
      http://www.business2.com/b2/web/articles/0,17863,1059204,00.html
    
    FYI: Voiceglo and theglobe.com are the same company for all intents 
    and purposes.
    
    Therefore, I am very interested to see if this is merely 
    co-incidental or if there is a reason that Sprint picked out two 
    providers that use Asterisk in their core.  Despite hysteria or 
    misinformation on this (and other) lists, there is no direct 
    information that I've seen that this is Sprint making a blanket 
    patent lawsuit against anyone using VoIP.  Perhaps this is just some 
    specific feature that they have a legitimate patent on which has been 
    infringed.  I doubt this is a codec patent issue, nor an equipment 
    patent issue (as previously discussed on -biz list.)
    
    Is there anyone with better detail on the lawsuit specifics able to
    comment?
    
    JT
    _______________________________________________
    --Bandwidth and Colocation sponsored by Easynews.com --
    
    Asterisk-Users mailing list
    Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
    http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
    To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit:
       http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
    _______________________________________________
    --Bandwidth and Colocation sponsored by Easynews.com --
    
    Asterisk-Users mailing list
    Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
    http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
    To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit:
       http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users

There has already been a reporter that reviewed the filing in Kansas
City, it had no specifics (CNET article maybe). Looks like we will have
to wait for the details after there have been further filings...

> -----Original Message-----
> From: asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com [mailto:asterisk-users-
> bounces@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of William Boehlke
> Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 3:27 PM
> To: 'Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion'
> Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Sprint Nextel sueing over VoIP patents
> 
> 
> The specifics are normally a matter of public record in the
jurisdiction
> where the suit was filed. The suit states the patents involved and the
> infringement claim. A reading will narrow the speculation
significantly.
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com
> [mailto:asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Gleim,
Jason
> Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 2:06 PM
> To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
> Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Sprint Nextel sueing over VoIP patents
> 
> I'll start with the disclaimer that I am not an attorney... nor do I
play
> one on TV...
> 
> But, a search of the US Patent & Trademark Office reveals 13 patents
> assigned to Sprint that deal with VoIP. (http://www.uspto.gov/)
> 
> 6947411
> 6944150
> 6937869
> 6909690
> 6870857
> 6868081
> 6865398
> 6741695
> 6731735
> 6697097
> 6681116
> 6556826
> 6373930
> 
> Of particular interest are the '9690, '4150, '1695, '3930
patents.
> 
> '9690 is a patent on call admission control using silence suppression
to
> better utilize network bandwidth. Specifically, it seems to deal with
a
> method to apply adaptive silence suppression at the customer site...
> presumably in the ATA.
> 
> '4150 is a patent on a 'gateway' layer to be implemented
between a
> customer
> and the communications network as a means of offering and controlling
> services offered as well as optimizing the deliver of those services.
> 
> '1695 is a patent on a method to interface packet-based and circuit-
> switched
> networks. It specifically mentions SIP and other protocols and how to
> interface them to signaling and voice paths in a circuit-switched
network.
> 
> Finally, '3930 is a patent on a method to 'redirect' call setup
through a
> third party for the purposes of service restriction or authorization.
> Basically it's a method of implementing pre-paid service on a packet
> network.
> 
> 
> The only one that seems to me that would directly apply to the *
community
> may be the '4150 or '1695 patents. But I don't know enough
about
patent
> law
> to know if it would be worth their time or if they would even have a
case.
> 
> There *maybe* something there too with some of the prepaid modules,
like
> AstCC, if they could argue it was hosted on a separate system. Again,
I
> don't know enough of the specifics to make an educated guess.
> 
> OK... now that I did my part to add to the FUD, maybe somebody that
knows
> more can build on what I found.
> 
> Jason
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com
> [mailto:asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of John
Todd
> Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 3:05 PM
> To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
> Cc: asterisk-biz@lists.digium.com
> Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] Sprint Nextel sueing over VoIP patents
> 
> At 2:43 PM -0700 10/4/05, trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com wrote:
> >
> >Sprint Nextel is sueing vonage, voiceglo and theglobe.com for
> infringing
> >on VoIP patents.  Sprint Nextel claims to have about 100 patents on
> VoIP
> >technologies.  Does anyone know which ones this article is talking
> >about, and if so does asterisk have any of those features?
> >
> >The reason I am asking is that the article is vague, Vonage uses a
> >fairly standard codec set, I dont know about the others.  So if its
not
> >codecs I wonder if its something so generic that the patent would be
> >tossed out upon challenge.
> >
> >Anyone thinking about doing a VoIP business may want to get more info
> >before proceeding since they may not have the millinos vonage has to
> >fight this.
> >
>
>http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2005/10/03/daily23
> .html
> >--
> >Trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com     Bret McDanel
> >UK +44 870 340 4605   Germany +49 801 777 555 3402
> >US +1 360 207 0479 or +1 516 687 5200
> >FreeWorldDialup: 635378
> 
> 
> 
> This perhaps is quite relevant to the Asterisk community.
> 
> While I don't know the specifics about Vonage, I do know that they
have
> been
> rumored to have (in the past, or present) used Asterisk in their core
for
> some services.  (Voicemail?  Conference?  Messages?) This, however, is
not
> confirmed.
> 
> http://www.ilocus.com/ui_dataFiles/news18aug05.htm
>
http://www.google.com/search?num=50&hl=en&lr=&newwindow=1&safe=off&c2cof
> f=1&q=%22vonage+uses+asterisk%22&btnG=Search
> 
> According to public information, Voiceglo uses IAX and Asterisk:
> 
> 
>
http://lists.digium.com/pipermail/asterisk-users/2004-February/036311.ht
> ml
>   http://www.business2.com/b2/web/articles/0,17863,1059204,00.html
> 
> FYI: Voiceglo and theglobe.com are the same company for all intents
and
> purposes.
> 
> Therefore, I am very interested to see if this is merely co-incidental
or
> if
> there is a reason that Sprint picked out two providers that use
Asterisk
> in
> their core.  Despite hysteria or misinformation on this (and other)
lists,
> there is no direct information that I've seen that this is Sprint
making a
> blanket patent lawsuit against anyone using VoIP.  Perhaps this is
just
> some
> specific feature that they have a legitimate patent on which has been
> infringed.  I doubt this is a codec patent issue, nor an equipment
patent
> issue (as previously discussed on -biz list.)
> 
> Is there anyone with better detail on the lawsuit specifics able to
> comment?
> 
> JT
> _______________________________________________
> --Bandwidth and Colocation sponsored by Easynews.com --
> 
> Asterisk-Users mailing list
> Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
> http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit:
>    http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> _______________________________________________
> --Bandwidth and Colocation sponsored by Easynews.com --
> 
> Asterisk-Users mailing list
> Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
> http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit:
>    http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> 
> --
> Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
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9/21/2005
> 
> 
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9/21/2005
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> 
> _______________________________________________
> --Bandwidth and Colocation sponsored by Easynews.com --
> 
> Asterisk-Users mailing list
> Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
> http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit:
>    http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users

if the case is knowingly frivolous, vonage, voiceglo, and theglobe can sue
sprint...

Http://pacer.uscourts.gov should have the filing online, when I get home I may
pull it unless someone beats me to it.

-----Original Message-----
      My suspicion is that Sprint was in negotiations to acquire Vonage and 
    they couldn't agree on a price so Sprint decided to sue Vonage to 
    leverage their position.
    
    Regards,
    
    Jason

I meant to imply anyone that wants to do business in america, not just live
here, if you want to write off america fine, don?t terminate calls here.  The
system is broke, and without money bigger companies can make life vary hard.  My
suggestion was to get more info, not to cease operations, find out specifically
what is charged so you don?t have to fight like voiceglo theglobe and yes
vonage.  Most people who want big business' will look to provide service
everywhere rather than small regions only.


-----Original Message-----
        Matt Riddell wrote:
    
    >trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com wrote:
    >  
    >
    >>Anyone thinking about doing a VoIP business may want to get more
info
    >>before proceeding since they may not have the millinos vonage has to
    >>fight this.
    >>    
    >>
    >
    >Unless of course they don't live in the United Sue'ers of
America.
    >
    >:D
    >
    >  
    >

They probably have liability insurance anyhow, plus this is all too
often standard business practice.

Will it hold up? Who knows, someone will probably go under from the
legal fees alone.

Greg 

-----Original Message-----
From: asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Matt
Riddell
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 6:10 AM
To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] Sprint Nextel sueing over VoIP patents

trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com wrote:
> Anyone thinking about doing a VoIP business may want to get more info 
> before proceeding since they may not have the millinos vonage has to 
> fight this.
Unless of course they don't live in the United Sue'ers of America.

:D

--
Cheers,

Matt Riddell
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Matt Riddell [matt.riddell@sineapps.com] wrote:
> My comment was directed at the USPTO who grants patents on a
> regular basis with what seems like no effort to check for prior art.  The
> first time I saw this I thought it was stupid.  The second, unbelievable,
> and the 358456347563th one crazy! 
> 
The life of a US patent clerk must be so boring.  The greatest excitement
they probably get is when they run out of ink for their "approved"
rubber stamp.  The USPO could probably outsource their approval process
to a third-world sweat shop.

If patent clerks were forced concentrate on their work, there would be
no atomic bomb.

-- 
   _/   _/  _/_/_/_/  _/    _/  _/_/_/  _/    _/
  _/_/_/   _/_/      _/    _/    _/    _/_/  _/   K e v i n   W a l s h
 _/ _/    _/          _/ _/     _/    _/  _/_/    kevin@cursor.biz
_/   _/  _/_/_/_/      _/    _/_/_/  _/    _/

I wouldn't think anyone would consider Sprint a dying company. They just
acquired Nextel so they've got money to spend.

Maybe as an ILEC (which they are here in Ohio) they are viewing Vonage
and Voiceglo as a force that needs to be stopped to prevent further
eroding of their POTS network. I know that I cost SBC money when I
dropped them for Vonage. They aren't getting the $$ for that line
installed to my home anymore. (Which makes me downright giddy when I
think about it.) Imagine if my whole neighborhood switched after SBC had
built-out facilities... that would cost SBC a lot of money. They put
those POTS lines in counting on them being active and producing income
for a long time. Even if service is provided by a CLEC, the line makes
money for the ILEC. But if the line is switched off before the payoff
horizon, they lose money.

Vonage just announced, with much fanfare, that they had hit 1 million
lines. In the big scheme that isn't a lot, but that is still 1 million
POTS lines that have been abandoned and are costing someone money. Maybe
Sprint sees this as an opportunity to leverage their patents to stem the
flow of people that are switching? It would explain the timing and why,
if the patents have been around for 2, 3, or 4 years, that they are just
now trying to enforce them.

The lawsuit may be frivolous... Or maybe they are throwing the suit at
Vonage & Voiceglo thinking it may distract them enough to break some of
their momentum... Or maybe Sprint has something, and if they get lucky,
it goes their way and tosses the entire thing in the blender? Who knows?
But I can't believe Sprint would pull a SCO and sue just to impress the
investors. They don't really need to.

Jason

-----Original Message-----
From: asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Dave
Cotton
Sent: Friday, October 07, 2005 4:57 AM
To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] Sprint Nextel sueing over VoIP patents

On Fri, 2005-10-07 at 01:34 -0700, John Todd wrote:
> To answer my own question: no, it doesn't seem like there is anything 
> Asterisk-specific in the suit.  It seems that Sprint is claiming that 
> they own the rights to pretty much any VoIP technology.  Carry on, 
> everyone; this will be thrown out with the rest of the garbage after 
> Vonage and others spend huge amounts of time and effort staving off 
> the frivolity lawyers.  <sigh>
> 
Is this just another dying company, like SCO, trying to give the
impression it's still got something for investors. In SCO's case it
appears nothing more than a pump and dump exercise.


-- 
Dave Cotton <dcotton@linuxautrement.com>

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