The IPKat has been trying to avoid making any comment on the Apple/Microsoft spat over the so-called "iPod patent", if only because it seems to have been so over-exposed in the media. However, so many people have been asking him for his comment that he feels compelled to break his silence.
First, he is astonished at how a simple story can be so swiftly distorted by the media. What started off as a simple tale of an Apple patent application being refused by the US Patent and Trademark Office because an earlier Microsoft application appeared to anticipate it has now become, according to some, Microsoft having an iPod patent which will enable it to extract billions of dollars from Apple (and others) for the manufacture of MP3 players.
The AppleInsider story says the Apple application "to patent the menu-based software interface of its popular iPod digital music player has ultimately proved unsuccessful". The Register points out that this isn't the case and that several key aspects of the iPod are adequately covered by separate Apple IP applications.
The IPKat is sure that, given the tendency of US companies to drift easily into licensing and cross-licensing agreements, Apple will not face any obstacle in the continued manufacture of its highly popular (if overpriced) MP3 players, but he wonders how new entrants ever manage to enter the market if they don't have their own portfolio of patents with which to (i) threaten infringement actions and (ii) offer to cross-license.
http://technollama.blogspot.com/2005/08/microsoft-v-ipod-not-really.html
ReplyDeleteHey, you have a great blog here! I'm definitely going to bookmark you!
ReplyDeleteI have a download limp bizkit mp3 site/blog. It pretty much covers ##KEYWORD## related stuff.
Come and check it out if you get time :-)
download limp bizkit mp3Mall
to all of the major RSS feed directories on the Internet.
ReplyDelete