Apple loses iPod patent
September 9th, 2005
Apple has lost a patent application for the second time in a short period. Apple wanted to apply for a patent on the iPod, its successful digital music player. Its competitor, Creative Technology, was one step ahead of Apple and acquired the patent on the user interface for portable music players. Microsoft beat Apple to the punch in early August already. The American patent office had already ruled in Microsoft’s favour in another patent application. In both cases, Apple’s competitors filed earlier applications.