Slashdot Mirror
iPod Faces Patent Probe
twofish writes "The long running patent spat between Apple and the struggling Creative Technology took another turn today. Creative is claiming that the US International Trade Commission (ITC) has now launched a probe into the possibility that the iPod infringes on Creative's patents. Creative has asked the ITC to issue an order stopping Apple from marketing, selling or importing iPods into the US."
creatives patent is a prime example of the EFF concept of "stupid patent".
How about I patent a method of aerobic circulation by which oxygen is drawn into an organ which passes it to the bloodstream!
seriously hundreds of posts about this in half a dozen dupe stories have pointed out so many examples of prior art it's insane.
VLC FOR MAC IS DYING! IF YOU DEVELOP, PLEASE SAVE IT!!
Because with God as their witness, no one else ever thought of a portable, digital music player. It is *SO* non-obvious that it takes a special kind of certified genius to come up with ideas like a scroll wheel, buttons, earphones, and -- wait for it -- a round front panel. I mean, it is like Apple was ripping off Einstein or Newton or something. How DARE they actually know how to market a product!
My guess is Steve Jobs will file a patent on a rectally inserted portable music player. Just to make sure the guys at Creative are aware of this, he'd be glad to demonstrate how it works on their entire legal dept over at Creative.
Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
Creative sues Sony, stating their line of CD Walkmen infringe on Creative's patented "play, pause, stop, rwd, and fwd" button technology.
Most likely scenario (80% chance): Creative gets nowhere with this. They lose the case and it quickly becomes a non-issue after briefly causing a few people to worry and Apple's stock price takes a dip, then rebounds.
Next most likely scenario (15% chance): Apple settles with Creative for an "undisclosed sum" and this becomes a non-issue after briefly causing a few people to worry and Apple's stock price takes a dip, then rebounds.
Next most likely scenario (4.999% chance): Apple buys Creative and this becomes a non-issue after briefly causing a few people to worry and Apple's stock price takes a dip, then rebounds.
Very unlikely scenario (less than 0.001% chance): The sun explodes, causing a dip in Apple's stock price.
Avoid Missing Ball for High Score
"I am tempted to sue Creative for sucking"
Because you invented "sucking" and hold the patent?
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
I know some people who owe you big time royalties.
Please, won't somebody think of the patents!
Its more popular than beer with the college kids. Frat boys will have to start back binge drinking again if they stop selling iPods.
ACK
If Apple did steal some specific ideas from Creative, then turnabout's fair play!
huhuhuh... you said "fair play" huhuhuhuh...
$ sed s/children/patents/g A_Modest_Proposal.txt | less
Yep, I'm thinking of the "patents." Mmmm, yummy, yummy patents....
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
Did anyone notice in the actual ITC Filing that they sent in along with the complaint a Creative Zen, an iPod and a nano to "actually see the similarities"? Heck, I'll bet that the judge will throw the case out after he sees exactly how much the Zen sucks.
Please, for the good of Humanity, vote Obama.