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Apple settles iTunes UI lawsuit

by David Chartier Sep 7th 2006 at 10:00AM

Someone at Apple has had to keep the checkbook on call lately. After forking over $100m to Creative for an iPod UI patent spat, Apple has just settled a second lawsuit, this time over various basic elements of the iTunes UI and functionality. We reported this way back in June of '05 when Contois Music Technology originally filed their lawsuit alleging that Apple employees witnessed some of their features at a mid-90's trade show, then promptly ripped them off. The list of duplicated features includes sorting music by genre, artist and album, as well as moving music to a portable device.

This time around, details of the settlement weren't disclosed, so it's anybody's guess as to how much they had to dig out of the couch cushions. Engadget hit it on the head: patent lawsuits are an ugly, expensive beasts, and Apple probably moved quickly to simply settle and walk away to fight another day. After all, it can't be easy being such a large target on top of the coveted DAP industry - especially when you might have stepped on someone else's toes to get there.

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Someone at Apple has had to keep the checkbook on call lately. After forking over $100m to Creative for an iPod UI patent spat, Apple has...
 

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Virtuous

These days it's difficult not to violate 1 or more patents. Lawyers must have rigged the current system.

September 07 2006 at 7:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
trevc

I sorted my albums in my milk crate storage system back in '69 by genre ... maybe I have a leg to sue on? ;-)

September 07 2006 at 11:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tony

The entire patent process is a joke...Just ask the guy running the patent office. Since the PO funding was slashed many years ago, they have no ability to actually examine patent applications on merit. So, they simply approve *everything*, no matter how ridiculous. The head of the PO (may have been the former head, not sure) has stated publicly that until funding is restored, they have no choice but to simply push paper. So, we get patents for ridiculous things like sorting by album, artist, and genre...extremely obvious functions that should not be patented. But, since the overwhelming majority of judges don't understand a thing about technology, these things can get argued in the courts and turn into a money pit for the company involved.

September 07 2006 at 11:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Evan Holt

I'm confused.. so they mean the SoundJam employees copied their ideas?

September 07 2006 at 10:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Frank Cefalu

Apple must of taken the sorting functionality and knew they were in the wrong to settle so easily. Funny huh.

September 07 2006 at 10:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eric E

If that's the complete list of alleged patent infringements, that's ridiculous. Players such as winamp had sorting features in the early 90's, not to mention that every other modern media player has similiar sorting features.

Only in America could a patent lawyer convince a judge of such ridiculous things... Apple probably settles every case in order to avoid injunction. These days, if you can't compete, sue

September 07 2006 at 10:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
andy

i really dont think you should be able to patent organizing music by genre / artist etc, sooo stupid, they gonna sue hmv?

September 07 2006 at 10:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kyp

Sorting? is that something you can patent? And moving songs to an portable device? I don't see how someone can own that. Someone please explain it to me if it can be explained in a blog comment post.

September 07 2006 at 10:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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