Apple vows to fight for iPod interface patent

Apple could be forced to pay Microsoft royalties for using the interface on its iPod, although Apple said it would continue to fight to have its iPod patented recognized. Following AppleInsider's breaking report last week, The Independent says that Apple could be required to pay "hundreds of millions of dollars" in royalties to Microsoft, whose previously filed patent on an iPod-like interface prevented Apple from receiving its own iPod interface patent; however, the United States uses a "First to Invent" method rather than a "First to File" method, making unlikely that Microsoft would be able to retain the rights to its patent." A spokeswoman said Apple would continue to try to get its patent recognised. The company could take the case to the patent office's appeals board. 'Apple invented and publicly released the iPod interface before the Microsoft patent application was filed,' it said in a statement." (WizBangBlog offers a detailed look at the "poor" media coverage following AppleInsider's initial report.)

Filed under: iPod