Apple Gives In to Absurd Patent Claims

gottabeme writes Apple has settled with a small Oregon company that claimed patents on simple aspects of iTunes, such as sorting and searching tracks, copying tracks to media players, and just plain choosing a track to play." From the article: "In the 10-page suit, lawyers for Contois said that David Contois, the owner, conceived of and developed a computer interface for playing music on an internal or external computer-responsive music device, which he then exhibited at the 1995 COMDEX trade show and the 1996 NAMM music industry trade show. According to the suit, persons who were at the time employed by or later became employed by Apple were present at both trade shows and viewed Contois' software. The suit charged that Apple later 'copied' the invention and used the design ideas in the interface for iTunes."

Comments

Summary misleading

[CODiNE]

The submitter assumes Apple caved, when actually we don't know the terms of the settlement and neither side is talking. Apple recently counter-sued for defense costs, maybe they dropped that in exchange for him dropping his lawsuit. After all, Apple didn't develop iTunes, they bought it. So the claims that Apple employees saw it at a trade show and ripped it off are completely false. Just wait and see, does dude go home and buy a new car and a boat? Or does he go back to his music store and keep working 9 to 5?

Oregon?

[sasdrtx]

Where did the submitter get Oregon? TFA says it's a Vermont company.