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Apple Settles Creative Lawsuit for $100 Million

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the have-some-money dept.

E IS mC(Square) writes "CNet News reports that `Apple Computer and Creative Technology have agreed to settle their legal dispute over music player patents for $100 million, the companies announced Wednesday. The $100 million, to be paid by Apple, grants Apple a license to a Creative patent for the hierarchical user interface used in that company's Zen music players. The patent covers an interface that lets users navigate through a tree of expanding options, such as selecting an artist, then a particular album by that artist, then a specific song from that album. Creative filed for the patent on Jan. 5, 2001. Apple can get back some of the $100 million payment if Creative is able to secure licensing deals with other MP3 player manufacturers, said Steve Dowling, an Apple spokesman. "Creative is very fortunate to have been granted this early patent," Apple's CEO Steve Jobs said in a press release.`"

8 of 316 comments (clear)

  1. Doesnt it sound like... by NexFlamma · · Score: 5, Funny

    ""Creative is very fortunate to have been granted this early patent," Apple's CEO Steve Jobs said in a press release.`"

    You can almost hear him whispering "motherfuckers!" under his breath after saying this.

    1. Re:Doesnt it sound like... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I've had it with these motherfucking patents on this motherfucking planet!

  2. Pay. Counter License. Smile. by catwh0re · · Score: 4, Funny
    Step 1. Pay Creative 100M

    Step 2. License offending patents to Creative for 150M.

    Step 3. There is no step 3.

    I suppose it's a new version of Rip. Burn. Mix.

  3. Somebody is soon going to get a patent ... by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... for an anatomical opening to expel the byproducts of digestion and sue everyone in sight with an a*****e.

    --
    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
  4. That's a lotta cabbage! by JimmytheGeek · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's going to wipe out the profit margin on sales of 20-30 ipods!

  5. Re:What goes around comes around by StikyPad · · Score: 4, Funny

    Consider how many people 100 million dollars could employ.

    Just one, but I'll work O/T and weekends too!

    --
    https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere
  6. Re:patent law already blocks the "obvious" by StikyPad · · Score: 4, Funny

    If more people/companies challenged the 'fork and knife' patents, fewer companies would abuse them.

    I believe you mean: An apparatus to divide food into portions of arbitrary size, by keeping the initial portion in place by holding the handle of the multi-pronged device, while simultaneously grasping the handle of the bladed device, and moving the thin or serated edge back and forth in a sawing motion against the food, and subsequently introducing those portions into an oral oriface using the multi-pronged device, or leaving them in their original position, or thereabouts, as desired, by firmly pressing one part of the bladed device against the portion to facilitate removal of the multi-pronged device from the aforementioned portion. Patent(s) pending.

    --
    https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere
  7. Re:What goes around comes around by commodoresloat · · Score: 4, Funny
    Remember the trash can patent?

    Yeah. It got thrown out.