Digital Trends

After sitting on its hands for nine months, Creative has filed a patent infringement suit against Apple, demanding the company be barred from selling iPods.

Hey, anyone remember last summer when Creative Labs was granted a patent regarding the organization and navigation of music tracks on portable music players? And sat on it for a while, revealed its existence, and then did...nothing? Well, it's almost summer again, and Creative is back. This time, they've filed a patent infringement suit against Apple Computer.

Creative alleges Apple' iPod and iPod nano music players violate Creative's "Zen" patent, and seeks an injunction barring Apple from importing, selling, or marketing iPods and iPod nanos. (They'd presumably name the iPod mini as well, but Apple doesn't make it anymore.)

Creative claims to have implemented and demonstrated its music interface in January 2000 in its Nomad Jukebox portable music player, and filed for the patent in January 2001, well before the first iPods shipped in October of 2001. When Creative announced last year it had been granted the patent, the company was immediately expected to target Apple Computer for royalties, but little-to-nothing has been heard since. Presumably, behind-the-scenes negotiations have not been fruitful, and Apple either believes it can beat Creative's patent claim or is willing to engage Creative in one of those notoriously long, drawn-out, and highly-technical patent court cases while continuing to make oodles of money selling iPods.

Apple has not yet commented on the suit.