Apparently Even Ringtones are Patented

[Jerry Raia]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000437056601/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000437056601/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Ringtones are patented? Seriously? We haven’t been able to dig up the patent in question, but apparently both Siemens and Sony Ericsson have quietly settled lawsuits filed against them by an inventor who claims to have patented the process by which cellphones play music instead of just a regular ring."</i><br /><br />I thought all those mono and poly ringtones are played just like the "standard" rings. Or are they talking about actual music files?

[John Cody]

In reading this thread:

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20050830/0139237_F.shtml

It appears that the patent in question doesn't cover "ringtones", but instead the patent is for "the ability to record a sound using the phone itself, then allowing it to be used as a ring tone."

BIG difference!

[Mike Temporale]

It appears that the patent in question doesn't cover "ringtones", but instead the patent is for "the ability to record a sound using the phone itself, then allowing it to be used as a ring tone."

BIG difference!

Oh... While that's better news, I still think that's pretty wide reaching for a patent.