Apple's iPod faces patent probe
Prophet of the Pimps
15 Jun 2006
Quote
Portable media player maker Creative Technology has said that US authorities will look at whether Apple's rival iPod player infringes one of its patents.
The firms have swapped patent lawsuits in recent months, but Creative said the US International Trade Commission (ITC) was now launching a probe.
Creative has asked the ITC to issue an order stopping Apple from marketing, selling or importing iPods into the US.
It claims the iPod infringes its patent for a music player navigation menu.
iPod pre-eminence
On Wednesday, Creative filed a complaint alleging that iPods infringe on its patent for software it uses to organise and access music on its Nomad and Zen-branded media players.
It said the ITC will refer the case to a judge who will hold hearings before making an initial determination as to whether an infringement has taken place.
The ITC normally issues a ruling 12 to 15 months after an investigation begins, Creative said.
Creative was one of the first companies to sell digital music players back in 2000, but it has struggled against the market dominance of the iPod since it was launched in 2001.
It plunged into the red earlier this year, blaming its $114m (£62m) losses for the three months to March on the plunge in MP3 player prices and its need to get rid of stock.
But it pledged to return to profit in the second half of 2006, saying it was renewing its focus on high-margin products, such as computer sound cards.
The firms have swapped patent lawsuits in recent months, but Creative said the US International Trade Commission (ITC) was now launching a probe.
Creative has asked the ITC to issue an order stopping Apple from marketing, selling or importing iPods into the US.
It claims the iPod infringes its patent for a music player navigation menu.
iPod pre-eminence
On Wednesday, Creative filed a complaint alleging that iPods infringe on its patent for software it uses to organise and access music on its Nomad and Zen-branded media players.
It said the ITC will refer the case to a judge who will hold hearings before making an initial determination as to whether an infringement has taken place.
The ITC normally issues a ruling 12 to 15 months after an investigation begins, Creative said.
Creative was one of the first companies to sell digital music players back in 2000, but it has struggled against the market dominance of the iPod since it was launched in 2001.
It plunged into the red earlier this year, blaming its $114m (£62m) losses for the three months to March on the plunge in MP3 player prices and its need to get rid of stock.
But it pledged to return to profit in the second half of 2006, saying it was renewing its focus on high-margin products, such as computer sound cards.
http://news.bbc.co.u...ess/5082162.stm
Ion Cannon!
15 Jun 2006
How can you copyright a blooming music navigation menu FFS! All this sueing is just pathetic and greedy. Just because Ipod are more successful than creative. Greedy Bastards.
Slightly Wonky Robob
15 Jun 2006
the only reason the ipod is so succseful is because they over charge for them and people buy them anyway
Whitey
15 Jun 2006
Agreed, its all because its so pricey that everyone thinks they are so good, till they drop them 
AllStarZ
17 Jun 2006
The biggest, most piercing question is...
Why the fuck do you need 20GB for music? I mean I don't even use that much space on my second comp.
Edited by AllStarZ, 17 June 2006 - 02:37.
Why the fuck do you need 20GB for music? I mean I don't even use that much space on my second comp.
Edited by AllStarZ, 17 June 2006 - 02:37.
Ion Cannon!
17 Jun 2006
I know alot of people that listen to 20gb of music, i only listen to about 5 myself.
Prophet of the Pimps
17 Jun 2006
i got 500 mb on my psp and thats all i need. most of the people i know who have a pod dont even use the playlist featureand they stuff it with everything they have. half the time they are skipping songs they dont want to listen. i like smaller capacity. make you choose quality over quantity.
Alias
17 Jun 2006
My hard disk is 20 gb... 
An iPod would be data storage for me
Edited by Jermies, 17 June 2006 - 11:51.
An iPod would be data storage for me
Edited by Jermies, 17 June 2006 - 11:51.
Prophet of the Pimps
17 Jun 2006
well wait for a while before you even think of getting a new computer. vista is around the conner, so anything you get has to work on vista.
domisgod
21 Jun 2006
I got a 1 GB iPod shuffle and I love the thing, sleak and simple. but the truth is I'm a music lover and could have up to 10 GB worth of music so a 20 gb is not unreasonable. I just think there are better MP3 players on the market then iPods. although my shuffle just recently broke and I went to the Apple store and they told me it was a busted flash drive and now I'm getting a brand new shuffle for free !
!
