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09 Dec 2005
Sim Wong Hoo, chief executive at digital media player firm Creative, has told the BBC that he plans to " pursue aggressively" a US patent which it owns on a system used to navigate music on digital players.
"We will pursue all manufacturers that use the same navigation system," he said.
Creative was one of the first companies to sell a digital music player in 2000 but has lost significant market share to Apple's iPod.
In August, Creative won a patent in the US for the way music tracks are organised and navigated on a player through a hierarchical system using three or more screens.
Wong Hoo was in London for the launch of the Creative Zen Vision M in time for the Christmas rush.
He said that Creative, which is ranked number two in the market, will have shipped eight million MP3 players this year.
Apple shipped almost 18 million in the first three quarters of 2005, and is expected to ship over 22 million by year end.
The Zen Vision M is a direct competitor to Apple's iPod video with a similar look and feel. It has 30GB of storage, a 2.5in high-resolution screen and claims to have twice the battery life of the iPod.
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Do you agree?
Apple lost this lawsuit
BTW, as a follow-up to this, Apple lost this lawsuit. They are not a nice company who treats others nicely...if it wasn't for the ipod they would be in the toilet about now... http://www.geekzone.co.nz/juha/1152
Posted by: AgetDuke 09 Sep 2009
Creative -- Creative in their lawsuit practices!
I agree with Mike. Why not sue the record companies also? They are organizing their CDs by album aren't they? Poor Creative, you had to rip of the touch sensitive controls from Apple. Why not say you came up with it first too? U.S. Patents are a joke at this day and age. *sigh*
Posted by: Tim R 12 Dec 2005
Creative's got the right idea
Do you know what really grinds my gears? People ranting on about a topic which they have no idea about. Seriously, Creative were the first into the market. Apple shortly followed and while doing so, copied many of the idea's Creative had used in their media player. However, what made Apple's iPod take off, was the amount of advertising they spent on it. They have made it more then a player, they have turned it into a social icon, where if you do not have one, you are not "In" or "hip hop and happening" I think its fair that Creative are sueing Apple. The underdogs are taking on the big guns, as they stole their ideas.
Posted by: Carlo 11 Dec 2005
US patent system is a joke
The fact that Creative was even able to get a patent on something so non-innovative and obvious as a hierarchal organization system for digital music is idiotic. Patents are supposed to be for inventions; how can anyone say with a straight face say that this qualifies as an invention?
Posted by: Ashwin 10 Dec 2005
Hierarchal menus patented?
I could be wrong about this, but I believe that the concept of hierarchal menus was developed far before Creative's claim. Isn't this what we have on almost every PDA, cell phone, and computer on the planet. I think I will patent the space bar on keyboards and sue everybody.
Posted by: Vaughn D. Taylor 10 Dec 2005
rediculous
i'm no fan of apple, very happy with my archaic archos brick, but these software patents are out of hand. apparently the hierarchical menu system is a new fangled idea. this reminds me of the adobe claim that they owned the floating pallete.
Posted by: ben 10 Dec 2005
UHhh
Hey,FATHEAD You must own an ipod because you are defending them, that is sad because it means that you are trying to fit in with the mindless sheep who flock to ipods like you, creative owns the patent, and can sue. If you have a problem with the fact that apple is in trouble then become a lawyer. The guy who patented the spray-can lid would sue, because he owns the patent. Its only can lid. WRONG, he owns it, and it would be stealing. And anyway the Ipod is the most overrated and crappiest player on the market. But that is another story.
Posted by: Kip 10 Dec 2005
Give Me a Break
You know what really grinds me gears, people like this. I mean this is essentially saying "Well since I can't make a better product than the iPod, I'll just sue them so I don't have to bother trying." Sueing because of how music is organized. Come on, the next thing you'll see is the same morons sueing consumers because they copied their playlist.
Posted by: Mike 09 Dec 2005
Hierachical filesystem patent???
Creative had a BIG press conference in August. They mentioned patent, and luring press on such nonsense - announced the last iPod killer. Reporters had to ask, a LOT, while they marketed whatever it was.... Finally pressed, said we will consider it ( legal action ) If they owned a patent for words, and a navigation system for MP3 players, SONY, and everyone else would also be sued.... Also, the file system on every computer & phone.... If they had it, they would have something.... However; the iPod uses the NeXT OS File Viewer - which predates MP3, and even VHS maybe! The black & white screen Creative "Invented" - Apple would never ship...DOS would look nicer... The "Patent" is under appeal, a common thing, and if anything, creative has stolen the iPod GUI - which is NeXT, & OS X File viewer which both predate any MP3 player... An easier case is called a "Trade Dress" suite. Like when Bondi blue iMac clones were stopped - in those cases, all Apple had to prove was that it "May confuse consumers", the judge was amazed..."It's even the exact same color"! -so much for that. Apple can definitely sue Creative, obviously they copied iPOD - Does anyone research news? Or is news just press releases, where even fact checking is too much work? PR Stunt: Creative uses questionable patent goof to use iPod mania to try to sell another iPod killer ( That is the headline!)
Posted by: Sun Tzu 09 Dec 2005
agro
welcome to the americanized world market
Posted by: jon smith? 09 Dec 2005
good grief
i guess if manage to wrangle a patent on putting 2 paks of hot cocoa mix in my hot chocy---i could sue for infringement if anyone EVER does the same?? or maybe if I patent some tighty-whiteys with a drop down splash guard...or maybe I could patent the way I walk up the front porch steps??/ yeah, then unless you pay me--you don't go in the house!!! sweet... who's working in the patent office anyway? oh wait, i remember now, low paid, obese, lazy, govt. employees....that explains alot
Posted by: jerry 09 Dec 2005
Ripped Off
Think about it. I you had a great idea and then someone copied it, but made it look prettier and then made millions - you'd be piericed right? Apple learnt from getting beat up by Microsoft. Better beats first anyday - but in court - first wins.
Posted by: ozbroomy 09 Dec 2005
Agreed!
I agree 100%. It is so true that some companies just get bent because they cannot make a better product. That is a really cheap way to get out of it, and just another reason i will NOT buy something form creative. I happen to already own an iPod and it is great.
Posted by: Phillip 09 Dec 2005
The patent problem
This is the main US patent problem. The patent works well for normal industry, but not for software industry. The development times are very short and it is impossible to patent all your ideas (except if you are a big company like IBM, Microsoft, etc.). So, problably somebody will patent your idea and you will have to pay them what is yours.
Posted by: Leonard Opitz 09 Dec 2005
The guy who posted before me is an idiot
The guy who posted before me is an idiot who uses family guy quotes..... How can you can u make a stupid comaprison liek that? THEY BROK A PATENT LAW AND NOW THEY ARE GONNA PAY. Your an idiot if you think it has anything to do with how much the ipod is selling in comparison to the zen
Posted by: You dont need this information you idiots 09 Dec 2005