Creative wins music player interface patent
updated 10:35 am EDT, Tue August 30, 2005
Creative MP3 patent
Apple may be faced with another patent struggle following news that Creative Technology has won the patent for a user interface for digital music players, according to Macworld UK. Earlier this month it was revealed that a Microsoft patent on an iPod-like interface prevented Apple from receiving its own iPod interface patent. Creative's "Zen Patent" (US Patent 6,928,433) "was awarded to Creative for its invention of the user interface for portable media players, including many of the Creative Zen and Nomad Jukebox MP3 players", the company says. The Zen Patent covers the user interface that enables users of portable media players to "efficiently and intuitively navigate among and select tracks on the players," the company explains. Creative applied for the Zen Patent on January 5, 2001 and it was awarded on August 9, 2005.
