One of the most popular podcasts on the internet, WTF with Marc Maron, began today’s episode with an impassioned plea: stop the patent trolls. Apparently, patent trolls have begun to sue successful podcasts hoping for settlements or licencing fees. As comedian Marc Maron mentioned in his opening monologue, Personal Audio, a patent troll group, has sued Adam Carolla, another popular comedian podcaster. Maron urged listener to support the Saving High-tech Innovators from Egregious Legal Disputes (SHIELD) Act, a pending bipartisan bill that would force patent trolls to pay defendants’ attorney’s fees in unsuccessful litigation.
Maron’s opening monologue about patent trolls lasts about 7 minutes. This podcast contains explicit language.
- http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/441/when-patents-attack (a “This American Life” episode referred to by Maron)
- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/28/shield_patent_act/ (article summarizing the SHIELD Act)
Syracuse Law and Civic Engagement 
Pingback: Patenting Podcasts? | Syracuse Law and Civic Engagement (SLACE) Archive