Apple's Patent Problems Persist

Mac News writes about a U.S. technology patent awarded to Creative Labs covering the way users navigate music selections for portable media players that just might allow the company to extract royalties from Apple. In an announcement, the company cited the Apple iPod and iPod Mini as violating the patent but did not confirm whether it would take legal action.

Yankee Group's Michael Goodman stressed that whole patent process could take a long time with appeals and courts involved, and in the interim other patents for players from other companies could be granted.

"I don't think you'll see a lawsuit. I don't think you see negotiations for at least 10 years," Goodman said. He added that Apple's past "innovation and experience, particularly with software rival Microsoft," would make them a tough opponent in a patent fight. "It's hard to take a bite of Apple. They've had a hard lesson in this," he remarked.