Personal Audio and its founder Jim Logan created and patented a technology which, they say, covers podcasting. The Electronic Frontier Foundation calls Personal Audio a patent troll and has launched a campaign to invalidate the patent. We hear from both sides on the latest episode of our podcast, Lawyer2Lawyer.

“This is the story of the American inventor,” Richard Baker, Personal Audio’s vice president of licensing, tells us. Personal Audio has filed lawsuits against several podcasters and media companies, claiming patent infringement by popular programs such as NBC’s The Adam Carolla Show and by CBS for its podcast distribution of multiple shows including The Voice and Meet the Press.

On the other side, the EFF is spearheading a campaign dubbed “Save Podcasting!” to rescind Personal Audio’s patent. EFF’s goal is to revoke Personal Audio’s right to compensation from any podcast program. Daniel Nazer, a staff attorney working on the campaign, represents EFF on the program.

On this edition of Lawyer2Lawyermy cohost J. Craig Williams and I talk with Richard Baker and Brad Liddle, Personal Audio’s president of licensing, and Daniel Nazer, EFF staff attorney, to hear their thoughts on what defines a patent troll, the specifics behind the cases, and more.

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.