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Mission Abstract Data

N

ncfradio

Guest
Has anyone been dealing with Mission Abstract Data and their Music On Harddrive copyright/patent royalty collection efforts? They are saying we owe them for the last 10+ years of royalty/licensing fees on a patent for music storage on harddrive automation systems. And we have to sign an annual licensing agreement for more royalty fees. Seems we are infringing on patents for off the shelf computers, automation software and harddrives? Is this on the level? I can't find any information on this through the NAB, etc.
 
ncfradio said:
Has anyone been dealing with Mission Abstract Data and their Music On Harddrive copyright/patent royalty collection efforts? They are saying we owe them for the last 10+ years of royalty/licensing fees on a patent for music storage on harddrive automation systems. And we have to sign an annual licensing agreement for more royalty fees. Seems we are infringing on patents for off the shelf computers, automation software and harddrives? Is this on the level? I can't find any information on this through the NAB, etc.
Click to expand...

Check with the company that provided your software; they will be able to inform you what to do. You also might google on the different terms to find out what is going on with the various systems and users.

I believe there are a number of articles in Radio World, and you can check their site.
 
This is "Mission Abstract Data" aka/"MAD." Their patents were reviewed by the patent and trademark office (PTO), and a number were rejected as covered by "prior art." That is, at the time they filed their patent other companies were already selling automation systems using the same designs as claimed by the patent.

Two patents were upheld--and that is what Mission Abstract is claiming in their latest round of letters. Those patents, however, were for systems using RAID arrays to supply music on demand either through the telephone system, by use of touch-tone phones ("punch 22 to hear Hootie and the Blowfish' latest hit???) or through a cable system.

Clearly no resemblance to systems used by most radio stations. Especially stand-alone systems such as Simian which neither use a "RAID" array or are even "on-line,"--except in the sense that stations might have that air computer connected to a local network so they can transfer files into the system. (Most versions of Simian are not designed to work over a network, that is, they want all the source files in the same computer as the automation system).

MAD is appealing the dismissal of those patents.

Related to all this mess is a suit filed by MAD against several large broadcasters (Beasely was one) based on these patents. Suit was stalled pending resolution of the patent challenges, but is still pending.

I filed the MAD stuff in the round file.
 
I received my latest solicitation from these folks this week too. They're playing the numbers game. There will always be somebody who decides to send them money instead of taking the risk.
 
Unfortunately, even if the patent litigation is decided against them, those suckers who signed their agreement will probably still be harassed to comply with that contract.
 
I saw the package they sent out to threaten stations into opening their checkbooks. Many automation contracts have hold harmless clauses, so even on the miniscule chance the patent was valid our vendor would have to defend us.
 
Thanks to everyone for their input. I guess it is just wait and see at this point.
 
Appears that they are running out of money, so they are trying extortion tactics. Patent, Trademark office ruled most of the areas supposedly covered by these patents were invalid based on "prior art." That is, there were other automation systems in the field already before their patents were filed.

If you look closely at the materials MAD sends out, they are talking about a music retrieval system using a RAID array over a network, or accessible by touch-tone telephone (Press 5 for Manilow, press 6 for Wham?).

Bears no resemblance to most systems now in use.
 
Not me. I have receive correspondence from them twice. The most recent was within the past few months.
 
We're all hoping that this patent troll goes away. While we have a newer automation system, one of my stations still uses a really old Arrakis Digilink, and I can guarantee that it was manufactured and sold some time before the existence of any of the patents in question.
 
Anyone out there remember when Wavestation (predecessor to Simian) came out?

I remember trying to use it on our AM station before we sold it in the early 2000's, thinking we were playing with the program in the late 90's. The MAD patents, as I remember, date from 94 and 97.
 
Dunno when Wavestation came out, but we were selling computer-based digital automation back in 1990. The Mission Abstract claims have to do with server-based music don't they?
 
Specifically, the patents speak to a raid array used to store music, with recall of tunes through dialing into a server or over a network. Obviously different from the single computer systems most of us use.
 
2 of my stations use old Arrakis Digilink 2's. Manufacture dates on some of the units in question are 1993, which I think is before the claimed patent date. They have tried twice to get me to pay,but not for quite a while.
 
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