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Apple Admits iPod Is From 1970s UK

MattSparkes writes "Apple has all but admitted that a British man invented the iPod over three decades ago in the 1970s. Unfortunately, he let the patent run out. When another company tried to grab a portion of its iPod profits, though, Apple went running to him to defend them in court. In return, it looks like he's in for a share of the cash generated from the sale of 163 million iPods."

6 of 358 comments (clear)

  1. So Close to Perfect! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now we just need the news to break that this man was once employed by The Beatles' label and you will hear the sound of a thousand lawyers climaxing at once.

  2. Re:Not patent-worthy by MPAB · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wow! You were college friends with Bill Gates?

  3. Re:Seems Like A Bad Summary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    A very bad summary indeed, and a quite bad article to start with.

    You sir, have summed up Slashdot quite well in one sentence.

  4. Re:Not patent-worthy by Y-Crate · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not even the first successful mp3 player; Linux Journal had one on the cover (IIRC) a couple of years before the first iPod was launched.

    I hear the drivers are almost ready!

  5. Re:Summary. by Awptimus+Prime · · Score: 5, Funny

    How dare you take the hype and charm out of a Apple article by stating facts.

    If I had a goatee and a latte, I'd be using Safari to mod you as a troll with my only mouse button.

  6. Re:Seems Like A Bad Summary by martinw89 · · Score: 5, Funny

    which wasn't the "first" by any measure

    Yes, because for those who remember, there was also this doohickey called a Creative Nomad. It happened to have more space and be much less lame than an iPod at the time.