Creative Has MP3 Player Interface Patent

indie1982 writes "BBC News online is reporting that Creative has been awarded the patent for the interface that many MP3 players use. The patent covers the way files are organised and navigated on a player using a using a hierarchy of menus, a system that Creative's own Nomad jukebox and Apple's iPod range use." Commentary also available at CNet. Reports trend towards an attempt to capitalize on Apple's mistake. From the BBC article: "Creative said the patent applied to its players, as well as some competing products such as the Apple's iPod and iPod mini. The patent covers how files on a music player are organised. Creative was one of the first companies to produce MP3 players but has lost out to Apple which dominates the market. The Creative announcement is the latest salvo in its self-declared war against Apple. "

Comments

Why are they called 'Creative?'

[Anonymous Coward]

First Nintendo patents insanity, now this. I don't know who patented stupidity, but I bet he is one rich man.

Re:Why are they called 'Creative?'

[Spy der Mann]

I don't know who patented stupidity, but I bet he is one rich man.

Yes, he is.

Re:Why are they called 'Creative?'

[The Bungi]

Oh, no. There's lots of prior art out there.

Re:Why are they called 'Creative?'

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm afraid stupidity was inadvertently released under the BSD license, making it freely available to all.

Re:Why are they called 'Creative?'

[eosp]

No, it's copyrighted by God. He's got prior art on humans.

Re:Why are they called 'Creative?'

[Anonymous Coward]

>Some day, there will be nothing left to patent, and nothing left to do without getting a license from someone. Some day, every part of me will be patented by various corporations and scientists. I, for one, welcome a nuclear annihilation before we get to that point.

You're not cynical enough. You should patent "a process of nuclear annihilation", then collect royalties before it happens.

If Lex Luthor had done this, Superman would have been bound in a paradox, since violating patents is un-American. Arizona would now been seacoast.

If You Can't Beat 'Em...Sue Em!

[Anonymous Coward]

In the vein of SCO vs. Linux, it appears that in the world of downtrodden MP3 player manufacturers they've decided to follow the old cliche:

If you can't beat 'em, sue em!

Creative Zen

[Anonymous Coward]

What kind of interface do they use for the infect operation?

In other news...

[Vapebait]

Creative patent the innovative use of virii on MP3 players.

MP3 devices will sort music by the Dewey Decimal..

[sTalking_Goat]

...System.

...and Librarians throught the US will smirk quietly in triumph.

If Creative's First, Who's On Second?

[WillAffleckUW]

I think you meant the process for patent filing in the US is:

1) Document the idea copiously.
2) Get the documentation notarized.
3) Send application (with $6K check) to USPTO
4) Ignore any and all prior art.
5) ...
6) Profit!

Re:Tiny Threats

[Salvo]

Apple should patent The bundling of Malicious Software with a hardware device. Then they could Counter-Sue Creative for the 3700 Virus-ridden Players unCreative Shipped.
Of course, to justify this patent, Apple would need to have shipped Hardware with Malicious Software...
They did ship Mac's with Internet Explorer, didn't they.

Re:I am so pissed off...

[VaticDart]

I'm going to apply for a patent on my brilliant idea of displaying a threaded discussion forum by the "scores" given to individual postings. A user will be able to set a "threshold" and only see things that score above their threshold.

I dare you to respond! Only more money in my pocket!