Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Apple Wins iTunes Interface Patent

Posted by pudge on from the get-yer-patents-here-no-reasonable-offer-refused dept.

phalse phace writes "There aren't too many details, but C|Net's news.com.com is reporting that Apple was issued a patent for its iTunes software interface on May 4. If you remember, Apple recently applied for a patent for its iPod interface as well."

4 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. Here is the patent by angle_slam · · Score: 5, Informative
    The patent number is 6,731,312. The first claim is
    1. A computer readable medium comprising media player application code which implements the following procedures:
    generating in a user interface an application window having a window frame and a plurality of stiles to define a plurality of panes within said frame;
    displaying in a first one of said panes a user selectable index of a plurality of media files;
    displaying in a second one of said panes first selected information for said media files; and
    displaying in a third one of said panes second selected information for said media files
    wherein said second and third panes are each initialized with a selection to view all of said user selectable index of the plurality of media files in said first pane.
  2. Re:Good for them... by aristotle-dude · · Score: 4, Informative
    This is an urban myth. Apple actually paid money to Xerox for access to their GUI lab and they hired away a guy from Xerox.

    You must be thinking of MS which did not pay Xerox anything and ripped off Apple.

    --
    Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
  3. USPTO should drop all pretenses of checkng patents by theLOUDroom · · Score: 3, Informative

    What become clear to me over the last few years is that the US Patent Office has descended to little more than a registry system, like copyright registration. All a patent really says these days is "I had this idea on this date."

    Personally, I think the USPTO should stop claiming to even attempt to research patents. They should just take your submission, slap a date on it, and stick in their files. The USPTO clearly does not have the resources/desire/ability to verify that everything that crosses their desks are actually vaid patents, so we should quit assuming that they are and let the court system sort it out when necessary.

    --
    Life is too short to proofread.
  4. Re:Lsongs picture link by bubba451 · · Score: 5, Informative
    Here's a better comparison (I made the window bigger and put it in Browse mode).

    The only difference, besides Lsongs taking a few beatings from an ugly stick, is that for some reason its controls are on the bottom.

    But everything else, down to the File/Edit/Controls/Visualizer/Advanced menus and the eye icon for Browse is the same.

    Pretty embarrassing.