New Patent for Creative Labs May Cause Distress at Apple

Creative granted U.S. Patent for its MP3 Player User Interface

Thursday, September 1, 2005 by Sembetu | Discussion: WinCustomize News

Creative Labs, maker of a number of MP3 players, was awarded a U.S. Patent that apparently covers the way a user selects tracks from a menu consisting of three levels of hierarchy or more. Creative has not yet stated whether or not they will pursue this matter in the courts, as it could be costly, but said they are evaluating the alternatives. Apple has not released a statement covering this matter as of yet, so Apple’s reaction is as of yet undetermined.

The patent is named the Zen Patent, and was originally applied for subsequent to the release of the NOMAD Jukebox in 2000. Since the Apple iPod was introduced in 2001, Creative claims to have precedence. Interestingly, Apple and Microsoft have applied for similar types of patents on related technology, and both were rejected.

Given the current 70% market saturation of the ubiquitous iPod, there is some concern that there could be far reaching implications stemming from the enforcement of royalties stemming from this patent protection.
11 Reply 22 Referrals
whiterabbit007
Reply #1 Friday, September 2, 2005 3:41 PM
I will never understand the US patent laws. How in heck do you patent a way of selecting a track?? It's like patenting the click or the double-click. I mean what's next, are they going to start patenting the close and minimize buttons on windows, or the drop down box? Somebody ought to knock some sense into these people.

MarkSnyder61
Reply #2 Friday, September 2, 2005 7:00 PM
Good for Creative Labs. I think it is unfair for consumers with companies like Microsoft or Apple to rush products to market and get a wide audience of users that now have become accustomed to these devices by means of someone else's ideas. It seems clear that big business is made from stealing technology. I think Apple probably thought they could get away with it if their products became the mainstream for consumers.

Blueweb
Reply #3 Friday, September 2, 2005 9:34 PM
Gata agree with whiterabbit007 on this one. How are mp3 devices supose to go down in price if they have no real competition? They should remove the patent all together so more companies can make players so I could afford one of em , duh

gmoneykyo
Reply #4 Saturday, September 3, 2005 5:09 AM
No Mark thats not how it should work. Don't forget Creative Labs is also a multi million dollar company. whiterabbit is absolutely right how can you patent a way of selecting a track? I suppose Sony will now argue the walkman was first .

(Although I would say this because I have an iPod and a Mac and I think Apple are the best people in the world no question Apple )

MarkSnyder61
Reply #5 Saturday, September 3, 2005 7:30 AM
What if you were the creator and got your idea stolen?? Now how would you feel? Hmmm...

thomassen
Reply #6 Saturday, September 3, 2005 7:52 AM
So, will this be an issue to me when I plan to make a mini-media-pc for my final major project and use Dx to create the interface? Will I have to look at all the various patents that involves user interfaces?

Patents have gone too crazy. Btw, does US patents affect outside the US?

gmoneykyo
Reply #7 Saturday, September 3, 2005 7:56 AM
Wow I'd love to see that UI thomassen. Be sure to post it on here if you do it because I may build a media centre soon. (I don't know how cos I have no money but I'll worry about that after I've built it )

whiterabbit007
Reply #8 Saturday, September 3, 2005 9:15 AM
There's patent Mark, and then there's a patent. They gotta be reasonable about it. What if artists started patenting the various techniques of creating art like watercolors or styles like surealism. You could argue that someone originated those couldn't you, but patenting that would be just a bit crazy, IMO.

thomassen
Reply #9 Saturday, September 3, 2005 9:26 AM
Outlaw999: Probably won't be until earlier next year. Before my final major project I have another project that runs towards christmas. The mediacenter I'm going to build will be based on one if VIA's mini-ITX motherboards. (17x17cm and fanless) A mediacenter pc doesn't have to cost much. You don't need state of the art hardware to operate it. (And state of the art hardware tend to make alot of noise due to all the fans unless you go with watercooling for instance.)
I don't know how cos I have no money but I'll worry about that after I've built it
hehe! that's the spirit!

All the others: Sorry for going a bit off-topic here.

MarkSnyder61
Reply #10 Saturday, September 3, 2005 9:49 AM
Rabbit: You have a point but that's why they call it a patent. There's probably more regarding this patent then what we consumers know. It will be interesting to see this unfold in the weeks ahead. I'm just giving my opinion here and not trying to start an argument.

gmoneykyo
Reply #11 Saturday, September 3, 2005 3:32 PM
That MoBo sounds cool thomassen. My mum was going to give me her government laptop because she quit her job but they sent someone to pick it up because they realized we still had it Bugger.

Apparantly it contained classified information but that's not a discussion for here

I'm gonna stop bringing people off the subject of patents so I'll read your reply if you post one but I won't be posting here again.

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