iPod patent dispute?

Apple , the compay's CEO told the BBC he plans to "aggressively" pursue a US patent that Creative owns on a system used to navigate music on digital players. The report follows speculation that the company would seek royalties from Apple after it said it had won a patent in the US for "the way music tracks are organized and navigated on a player through a hierarchical system using three or more screens." The new video-enabled Zen Vision: M player, positioned to take on the iPod video, look remarkably similar to Apple's iPod designs and offers more features, including an FM radio and a built-in mic and the company has other offerings with iPod-like product names, such as the Zen Sleek Photo and the Zen Nano Plus.

"We will pursue all manufacturers that use the same navigation system," said Mr Sim. "This is something we will pursue aggressively. Hopefully this will be friendly, but people have to respect intellectual property."

Creative's Sim said that it had already begun discussions on the patent with various parties, but refused to provide details, according to the report.

by MacNN Staff