Apple/Creative - Patent related

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From arstechnica.com

@arstechnica

Digital music and video player manufacturer Creative was recently awarded a patent for an interface for a digital music player. Granted on August 9, the user interface described in the patent sounds suspiciously like the iPod’s.

[COLOR=DarkRed]A method of selecting at least one track from a plurality of tracks stored in a computer-readable medium of a portable media player configured to present sequentially a first, second, and third display screen on the display of the media player, the plurality of tracks accessed according to a hierarchy, the hierarchy having a plurality of categories, subcategories, and items respectively in a first, second, and third level of the hierarchy[/COLOR]

I just looked over at my iPod, and yep, the above description just about covers it.

Apple has attempted to patent the iPod’s UI, but has had their patent applications denied. Apple’s request was submitted in late 2002, but was turned down based on an application filed by one John Platt earlier that year. Creative’s patent filing appears to beat both Platt’s and Apple’s, as it was filed for in January 2001. The interface first appeared in the Creative Nomad Jukebox MP3 player, which began shipping in September of that year. The iPod appeared just over a year afterwards.

Where does this leave Apple? Unable to unleash a world of legal hurt on competitors who incorporate the interface into their own digital music players, for one thing. It is also possible that Creative may try to put the squeeze on Apple by enforcing the patent and requiring Apple to license it. Either way, this destroys any hope Apple had to lock up the iPod’s popular user interface.

Nothing big, really. But still, tech news.