Subject: Re: [VR]: Re: IPIX against Panorama_Tools I hope the ASMP / MCPA can have an impact on this. Please, all, check these sites. ASMP-American Society of Media Photographers-National Site http://www.asmp.org/ MPCA - Media Photographers' Copyright Agency http://www.mpca.com/ Scott Highton is an ASMP member and Chairs for Corporate Sponsorship and WWW site policy : Joined: 1987 Chapter: Northern California Chapter President: Did not serve as chapter president Committees: Chair, Corporate Sponsorship and WWW site policy Work: Virtual Reality, Multimedia, Corporate, Photojournalism, Documentary, Cinematography, Aerial, Underwater Non-photographic interests: Aviation, scuba diving, mountaineering How to contact Scott: Phone: 415-592-5277, Web: http://www.highton.com, mail: 996 McCue Avenue, San Carlos, CA 94070 You would think Scott would have an opinion about this since he also shoots photobubbles. I'm sure he is giving it great consideration by now since he is also on this list. Also, the head of ASMP INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: Matt Herron - (ASMP past president, 1993-95) Joined: 1964 Chapter: Northern California Chapter President: From 1966-68 - New Orleans; 1988-90 Northern California Committees: Chair, International Relations Work: Director, Take Stock, a stock photography agency Non-photographic interests: Skiing, sailing Steven de Winter wrote: > Helmut Dersch wrote: > > > I have closed the Panorama Tools site > > temporarily because of threats from IPIX corporation. > > Jumping in a bit late in this ongoing IPIX-debate. It's a shame that > IPIX can stop Helmuth who has created so many impressive VR panos and > who contributes so much to the further development of VR photography. Is > there no way to challange IPIX in court re this incredible patent? I > suggest iqtvra should at least start seeking legal advice now on how to > stop IPIX. The iqtvra's "mission statement" provides sufficient mandate > for such action: "The International QuickTime VR Association promotes > and supports the use of QTVR and related technologies worldwide through > education, community forums, special interest groups, manufacturer > liaison and commercial, technical & marketing support". > And/or should we seek legal advice in various countries and then bring > IPIX to court where our chances are best? [As they prefer a British > court in their "case" against Helmut]. Or should we just publish our 8mm > fish-eye panos on a hosting server in an "IPIX safe" country? > > If legal action against IPIX has already been discussed on this list, I > apologize for raising the issue again. In that case I apparantly missed > that debate. But if, on the other hand, nothing legal has been > undertaken yet, I would like to see some action. > Loren Price > We are working on a solution that preserves Helmut's rights as a creator > and developer. We are in a better position to do something like this now, > KathyW > This is disgraceful!! > It seems "justice" depends on how big your wallet is these days - to hell with > free enterprise and fair competition. What's even more unjust is that their > "market" of users will promote their product 'cause it's the only one they know > of (legal department's seen to that by closing down, buying out or sueing out > all competition .. tactics sound familiar??) > Our thoughts and best wishes Helmut ... don't let your work end here! Wow (Rabbett ) - this is certainly unsettling. ...This gives me one more reason to never ever consider doing any business with IPIX. IPIX is beginning to act more and more like NetNazis. This is exactly the kind of thing that IQTVRA should be working towards resolving. I'd be willing to join up again if IQTVRA can figure out some way to help you as guys like you should be supported not strangled. also, ... This is brilliant!...I think we should all fly banners that declare our webs to be IPIX FREE environments. I also think the IQTVRA should leak this story to macintouch.com and CNN, The new york times and the International Herald Tribune and do it tonight Wrinkle 1, 2 and my own vr sites will be glad to fly such a banner. I will make my own attempt at a banner. The banner will link to Helmut's site and someone should put together a concise editorial piece explaining what IPIX has been up to so that it can be referenced also... for them to copyright (as i understand it) any and all 360 degree spherical views is like copyrighting an eyeball itself or heaven...Only god should have the rights to such a claim. jonee I was just wondering whether this IPIX patent also covers lens adaptors like Spiratone or Kenko, which are screwed on 50 mm lenses. Those nifty lawyers sure would find some loophole in the patent, and if they don't, Helmut should be backed by all of us panographers... Carol Geary I'm contacting my financial advisor as to alternatives. It seems at the least that I should not own stock in anything that invests in IPIX. and...Motorola has been IPIX's main investor all the way back to the days of Omniview. (unidentified contributor) A while back, Motorola decided that the managment was ineffective, so they got rid of upper management and installed their own guy, a VP of marketing from another division of Mortorola. That is why they have become so agressive in getting major sites to signup with their technology. Their sales staff knows how to walk the walk and talk the talk of corporate suits. But then when you give the service away for free, it creates unfair competition. Then when they get a lead from someone who is supposed to be a partner and then go in and cut out the partner to get the job. This is "Take no prisoners" marketing at its worst. They must have seen some wildlife show where they showed how some animals eat their young and decided that it was a good motivational tape to fireup the troops. Good corporate policy, huh?...A timely press release in the LA Times might be what is needed here. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, there is a cyber-journalist that interviewed me last year for an article in the Wall St. Journal about immersive imaging. It ran in both the print and online versions. I'm sure he'd like to hear of the latest events. He also writes for the NY Times on cyber-issues. "Jason Valdina" Are you guys kidding? Is IPIX really claiming that any VR shot with an 8mm fish-eye is by default "illegal"?! Whoa. They simply specify either the Sigma or the Nikon 8mm lenses as the ones to use to capture their images. Are these different lenses than the ones you can use for LivePicture capture? Jim Zellmer IPIX just completed a US$28m round. http://www.ipix.com/about/press/press46.html Here are the new investors: - Liberty Media (TCI Cable Company Spinoff) - General Electric (US) Equity - American Express Travel Related Services - Motorola - Cendant - JP Morgan - Invision - Stephens Capital Will there be other players? Helmut Dersch I have closed the Panorama Tools site temporarily because of threats from IPIX corporation. Since there isn't anything illegal at my site, they invented something: Copyright infringement. They claim one of my panoramic images was copied from their site. All my images were made by myself with my own equipment at original locations. The image in question (Grand Canyon) even shows me. But they expect me to demonstrate this to a british court which is of course an obvious choice for a US-company suing a german site. I don't think they can really hurt me, but it is certainly goodbye to Panorama Tools for a while. Helmut Dersch -- "Consciousness creates Energy creates Matter" Christianson Studios PhotoLogic >< TeamVR 23 Empire Drive St. Paul, MN 55103 (651) 602-3113 Studio (651) 602-5601 Fax (612) 280-5020 Cell http://www.PhotoLogic.com/TeamVR "The time spent sailing, is not deducted from your life." ____________________________________________________________________ To change your subscription or to review the policies of this list, please see the form located at: http://www.navmark.com/vr-issues/ Archives of recent digests are located at http://www.navmark.com/archive/vr-issues/ For help with technical issues regarding QuickTime VR, please subscribe to the QuickTime VR mailing list at http://www.lists.apple.com/quicktime-VR.html