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For six years, the Internet Nexus served as my technology blog, but I've since started blogging at the SuperSite Blog instead. If you're looking for the blog, please head there. --Paul

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Apple forced to settle with Creative

As expected, Apple was violating Creative's patents. Here's Apple's spin on the settlement:

Apple and Creative Technology, Ltd. today announced a broad settlement ending all legal disputes between the two companies. Apple will pay Creative $100 million for a paid-up license to use Creative's recently awarded patent in all Apple products. Apple can recoup a portion of its payment if Creative is successful in licensing this patent to others. In addition, the companies announced that Creative has joined Apple's "Made for iPod" program and will be announcing their own iPod accessory products later this year.

"Creative is very fortunate to have been granted this early patent," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "This settlement resolves all of our differences with Creative, including the five lawsuits currently pending between the companies, and removes the uncertainty and distraction of prolonged litigation."

LOL. They're fortunate to have both done it first and gotten a patent for their work, yes. Even in defeat, Apple is petty. I can't believe this type of thing doesn't offend more people. Instead, some kid living in his parent's basement will write an overly long article about how Apple actually invented the iPod user interface back when it created the Lisa, or something equally insane, and Apple fanatics the world over will rally around this revision of history. Sigh.

But as with the Dell DJ affair, this time the right company won.

This brings up an interesting point. In the wake of the iPod's success, I was sort of astonished to see how many Mac sites and publications tried to capitalize on Apple's latest endeavor, even though MP3 players and computers are only tangentially related. So now we have the aborted Playlist, iPodNN, iPod Observer, and so on. But are these guys really experts in both computers and music hardware? And if so, how come none of them pointed out that the iPod used an eerily familiar UI when it first appeared (and continues to do so)? Part of the reason is that none of these guys were even around when the first iPod shipped. Part of the reason is none of them were likely familiar with Creative's products at the time. But heck, even I missed it, though I at least mentioned Creative as a predecessor in the review.

[ Posted at 3:41 AM | Permalink ]