Is EVERY Podcast Illegal?

Every week, I co-host a podcast called Geeks&Beats with BNN’s Michael Hainsworth.  I create a line-up, we meet up via Skype at 7pm Sundays and then he produces everything into a lovely 30-minute (ish) package.  We’re very, very careful not to use any material to which we do not own the rights.  That means being diligent about any audio (especially music) that could cause us trouble.  God knows we can’t afford it.

Geeks&Beats is a totally legal podcast in every way.  Or maybe not.

You see, there’s an American company called PersonalAudio which claims to own the patent on the idea of offering personalized on-demand audio over the Internet.  The company’s founder, James Logan, says he came up with the idea of podcasting in 1996.  PersonalAudio has been on a mission to sue people from Apple on down.

Adam Corolla, host of the most-downloaded podcast in the world, is currently being sued and has spent over $100,000 in legal fees already.

For a legal look at what’s going on with this case, one that  potentially affects all kinds of downloadable content, from Apple and TV networks to everyday podcasters, go here.