Creative/Zen sues Apple over I-Pod interface

[j_garcia]

The suit alleges a patent infringement over the user interface that was shown to Apple prior to the release of the I-pod. I couldn't find any info on the web in a cursory search, but I heard it on the radio this morning. They want Apple to "stop selling I-pods" and come up with an alternative interface apparently. I guess it took this long to either come up with evidence or something. Anyone else hear about this?

 

[Sheep]

The suit alleges a patent infringement over the user interface that was shown to Apple prior to the release of the I-pod. I couldn't find any info on the web in a cursory search, but I heard it on the radio this morning. They want Apple to "stop selling I-pods" and come up with an alternative interface apparently. I guess it took this long to either come up with evidence or something. Anyone else hear about this?

News to me. Go Creative! (And Oilers).

SheepStar

 

[Johnd]

Here's a link:

http://www.macnn.com/articles/06/05/15/creative.sues.apple/

Marketwatch has an article on a different complaint filed.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Wait - a patent was issued in August 2005 for the interface used by half a dozen different companies for the past 5+ years?

I personally have used the AudioRequest which is a hard drive based digital music server that is full sized - goes into your equipment rack. That interface, designed 5+ years ago, seems about as close to what everyone else has copied as anything that I have ever seen.

I can't believe that a patent could be issued on a globally used interface so many years after the original design.

 

[GlocksRock]

I hope that Apple has to stop selling ipods... that would make my day.

 

[j_garcia]

Wait - a patent was issued in August 2005 for the interface used by half a dozen different companies for the past 5+ years?

I personally have used the AudioRequest which is a hard drive based digital music server that is full sized - goes into your equipment rack. That interface, designed 5+ years ago, seems about as close to what everyone else has copied as anything that I have ever seen.

I can't believe that a patent could be issued on a globally used interface so many years after the original design.

The patent was most likely pending for the last few years, and now that it has been granted, they own it exclusively. I expect Apple will settle and have to pay royalties/fees to Creative.