Apple Settles Patent Dispute with Creative for $100m

Published on August 24, 2006 By Zoomba In WinCustomize News

Yesterday Apple Computer and Creative Technology announced that they had reached an agreement in the ongoing patent dispute over the iPod's navigation system. The patent in question is for the hierarchical user interface used in the Creative Zen to sort and display songs and other information. The agreement has Apple paying out $100 million to Creative, with that number to potentially decrease as Creative reaches similar deals with other MP3 player makers.

Read more at CNet News.

Comments

FuryThree

on Aug 24, 2006

*Insert 20-page iPod vs. every other DAP debate here*

Black_Vper PcG

on Aug 24, 2006

Wow, Apple taking patents from Creative?

Xiozan

on Aug 24, 2006

Wait... (sarcasm) Apple didn't invent it???? Apple (heavy sarcasm) ALWAYS invents everything they use in their products according to Apple.
(End Sarcasm)

Fourth Letter

on Aug 25, 2006

So when is Konfabulator getting a payout

Blueweb

on Aug 25, 2006

So technically the guy who invented the folder could just sue every mp3 player company...

Tombala

on Aug 25, 2006

That's crap... Creative didn't exactly invent anything either. Hierarchical data based menu interfaces have been used in all kinds of places for many years. It's not a novel concept created by Creative by any means. Cramming it into a small screen might be new but it's nothing worth a patent IMO. The people at the patent office need to get a tech training some time soon or this patent crap is going to get out of control. Let me patent double-clicking with a mouse, then, if we're getting ridicilous with patents. And, who invented the desktop search engine, and shouldn't Stardock get credit for coming up with gadgets, widgets or whatever the f*** you wanna call them? Large companies use their lawyer muscle to get patents and then extort others for money. It's all crap...

MarkSnyder61

on Aug 25, 2006

Tombala, I think there's more to this than what we all hear...do a search and you'll see why Apple went right to the "core" with infringement and got cought!

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