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An RSS feed icon, commonly used to indicate the Web feed for a podcast

A podcast is a series of digital media files, either audio or video, that is released episodically and downloaded through web syndication. The mode of delivery is what differentiates podcasts from other ways of accessing media files over the Internet, such as simple download or streamed webcasts: special client software applications known as podcatchers (like iTunes, Zune, Juice or Winamp) are used to automatically identify and download new files in the series when they are released, by accessing a centrally-maintained web feed that lists all files currently associated with that particular series. New files can thus be downloaded automatically by the podcatcher and stored locally on the user's computer or other device for offline use, making it simpler for a user to access episodic content.

Like the term broadcast, podcast can refer either to an ongoing series of episodes of particular program^[1] A podcaster is the person who creates the content.

Name

The term was menioned by Ben Hammersley in The Guardian newspaper in a February 2004 article, along with other proposed names for the new medium.^[2] It is a portmanteau of the words "iPod" and "broadcast",^[3] the Apple iPod being the brand of portable media player for which early podcasting scripts were developed (see history of podcasting), allowing podcasts to be automatically transferred from a personal computer to a mobile device after download.^[4]

Despite the source of the name, it has never been necessary to use an iPod, or any other form of portable media player, to use podcasts; the content can be accessed using any computer capable of playing media files.^[5] A backronym has been posited where podcast stands for "Personal On Demand broadCAST."^[6]^[7]^[8]

History

Podcasting began to catch hold to the general public in late 2004, though during the 1998-2001 dot-com era, there were multiple "podcasts" done by major companies including such as Real Networks and ESPN.com. Many individuals and groups^[who?] contributed to the emergence and popularity of podcasts.

The most common audio file format used is MP3.

Trademarks

2005

File:Podcasting icon.jpg

The logo used by Apple to represent Podcasting

On February 5, 2005, Shae Spencer Management LLC of Fairport, New York filed a trademark application to register PODCAST for an "online prerecorded radio program over the internet".^[9] On September 9, 2005, the United States Patent and Trademark Office rejected the application, citing Wikipedia's podcast entry as describing the history of the term.^[10]

As of September 20, 2005, known trademarks that attempted to capitalize on podcast include: Podcast Realty, GuidePod, PodGizmo, Pod-Casting, MyPod, Podvertiser, Podango, ePodcast, PodCabin, Podcaster, PodShop, PodKitchen, Podgram, GodPod and Podcast.^[11]

2006

On September 26, 2006, it was reported that Apple Computer started to crack down on businesses using the acronym "POD", in product and company names. Apple sent a cease-and-desist order that week to Podcast Ready, Inc., which markets an application known as "myPodder".^[12] Lawyers for Apple contended allegedly that the term "podlol" has been used by the public to refer to Apple's music player so extensively that it falls under Apple's trademark cover.^[13] It was speculated that such activity was part of a bigger campaign for Apple to expand the scope of its existing iPod trademark, which included trademarking "IPODCAST," "IPOD," and "POD."^[14] On November 16, 2006, Apple Trademark Department returned a letter claiming Apple does not object to third party usage of "podcast" to refer to podcasting services and that Apple does not license the term(s).^[15]

2007

As of February 2007, there were 24 attempts to register trademarks containing the word "PODCAST" in United States, but only "PODCAST READY" from Podcast Ready, Inc. was approved.^[16]

References

External links

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[1] "Podcast Production". President.

[2] Ben Hammersley: "Audible revolution", The Guardian, 12 February 2004.

[3] Oxford University Press | Podcast

[4] Adam Curry's Weblog

[5] - What is PodCasting?

[6] Common Craft's video "Podcasting in Plain English"

[7] Creative's definition of the term podcasting

[8] Podcasting dictionary

[9] PTO Letters of Protest: The "PODCAST" Paradigm

[10] Podcast trademark rejection cites Wikipedia

[11] Podcast Trademark Gold {PTG} Rush

[12] Podcast Ready

[13] Apple cracks down on use of the word 'pod'

[14] Podcast Trademark Controversy [Updated]

[15] Apple letter.

[16] List of US podcast trademarks

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 ===2006===
-On [[September 26]], [[2006]], it was reported that [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer]] started to crack down on businesses using the [[acronym and initialism|acronym]] "POD", in product and company names. Apple sent a cease-and-desist order that week to Podcast Ready, Inc., which markets an application known as "myPodder".<ref>[http://www.podcastready.com/info.php?section=8&page=41 Podcast Ready<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Lawyers for Apple contended allegedly that the term "pod" has been used by the public to refer to Apple's music player so extensively that it falls under Apple's trademark cover.<ref>[http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2164984/apple-goes-pod-makers Apple cracks down on use of the word 'pod']</ref> It was speculated that such activity was part of a bigger campaign for Apple to expand the scope of its existing [[iPod]] trademark, which included trademarking "IPODCAST," "IPOD," and "POD."<ref>[http://www.macrumors.com/2006/09/25/podcast-trademark-controversy/ Podcast Trademark Controversy <nowiki>[Updated]</nowiki>]</ref> On [[November 16]], [[2006]], Apple Trademark Department returned a letter claiming Apple does not object to third party usage of "podcast" to refer to podcasting services and that Apple does not license the term(s).<ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=309396084&size=l Apple letter].</ref>
+On [[September 26]], [[2006]], it was reported that [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer]] started to crack down on businesses using the [[acronym and initialism|acronym]] "POD", in product and company names. Apple sent a cease-and-desist order that week to Podcast Ready, Inc., which markets an application known as "myPodder".<ref>[http://www.podcastready.com/info.php?section=8&page=41 Podcast Ready<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Lawyers for Apple contended allegedly that the term "podlol" has been used by the public to refer to Apple's music player so extensively that it falls under Apple's trademark cover.<ref>[http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2164984/apple-goes-pod-makers Apple cracks down on use of the word 'pod']</ref> It was speculated that such activity was part of a bigger campaign for Apple to expand the scope of its existing [[iPod]] trademark, which included trademarking "IPODCAST," "IPOD," and "POD."<ref>[http://www.macrumors.com/2006/09/25/podcast-trademark-controversy/ Podcast Trademark Controversy <nowiki>[Updated]</nowiki>]</ref> On [[November 16]], [[2006]], Apple Trademark Department returned a letter claiming Apple does not object to third party usage of "podcast" to refer to podcasting services and that Apple does not license the term(s).<ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=309396084&size=l Apple letter].</ref>
 ===2007===