Discovery sues Amazon over Kindle reader
updated 03:25 pm EDT, Tue March 17, 2009
Discovery Sues Amazon
Cable channel provider Discovery today sued Amazon in a Delaware US District Court over what it claims are patent infringements over the Kindle's e-book distribution system. The TV provider claimed that both the original device and the Kindle 2 echo elements of its own online distribution methods, which let users watch episodes either on computers or on smartphones and other mobile devices. Discovery is seeking to block Kindle 2 sales or else to collect royalties as compensation for future sales.
The lawsuit has potential ramifications for other online store providers as Amazon's methods are relatively typical for both purchasing and subscriptions for most mobile devices, including iPhone downloads from the iTunes Store. It's unclear whether Discovery feels its patents apply to Apple or other electronics designers.
Amazon's looming conflict is the second the company has encountered since launching the Kindle 2 in February. The first was an accusation by the Author's Guild that the e-book device's text-to-speech function allegedly bypassed authors' rights for audiobook versions. Amazon settled the dispute by adjusting text-to-speech rights and letting book publishers disable the feature in individual titles, though Amazon has maintained that the feature is legal.
You morons
03/17, 03:58pm reply
What's wrong with quoting a source for your articles? It's not like we expect this site to be coming with news on it's own, and I'm sure not going to trust a single source for news like this.
Zaren
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Wait!!!!
03/17, 04:16pm reply
What the h*** is this? This lawsuit should be thrown out for one main reason.
They are NOT suing Apple!
How dare they diss Apple by suing someone who has less sales than the iPhone and AppStore purchases? How dare they infringe on Mac user's rights to feel offended that all lawsuits revolve around Apple? They can't even rail on it with the same vitrol as they would if Discovery had sued Apple like they should have!
I say we sue Discovery for emotional distress!
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
just wait
03/17, 04:41pm reply
The article did mention that Apple is a possible target once they decide if the patents apply to Apple. So relax and wait for the vitriol to come. Apple fans will not be disappointed.
gor3don
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Joined: Nov 2005
That's interesting
03/17, 04:43pm reply
After I made that original post, I quickly found a link to an AP article about it, and completely re-edited my post to remove my initial surly, offer the link, and change the subject. None of that made it into the edit.
Zaren
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Payback
03/17, 04:46pm reply
This is probably Discovery Networks getting sweet, sweet payback for Amazon making them license their 1-click patent, if I had to make a guess.
WiseWeasel
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 1999
Re: That's interesting
03/17, 05:12pm reply
What's interesting is that NONE of the articles I found talk about this having anything to do with episode delivery, and everything to do with encrypted ebook delivery.
Which would explain why Amazon is being sued. And why Apple isn't. And why Macnn's speculation about this affecting iTunes downloads is idiotic. And why Macnn shows yet again they should hire an editor.
cmoney
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Sep 2000
Re: That's interesting
03/17, 11:27pm reply
Or it could be, like with other cases, you go after one fish, not the whole aquarium. Apple may not be the one being sued, but it could end up in court one day, depending on how this case goes.
Oh, wait, I forgot. If Apple was culpable, they would be the ones being sued. Because they are the center of the universe.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Re: That's interesting
03/18, 10:38am reply
While you're sometimes right in your zest to attack the fanboys, it looks like that isn't the case here. The patent in question is Patent No. 7,298,851 "Electronic Book Security and Copyright Protection System".
Macnn needs a research editor.
cmoney
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Sep 2000