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(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick

Fri, Sep 1st 2006 12:26pm





Apple Settles Yet Another iTunes Interface Patent Suit

from the settling-all-patent-disputes dept

Hot on the heels of Apple's decision to settle with Creative over a patent on the basic interface for finding music on your iPod, Apple has also settled another patent claim concerning a patent for a computer-based system and user interface for media playing devices. Yes, that's basically patenting the interface for playing music on a computer system. The owner of the patent claims that Apple must have stolen the idea when they saw him present it at a tradeshow. Though, of course, another possibility is (dare we say it?), the idea is just incredibly obvious. Either way, it looks like Apple is trying to settle all the various patent cases concerning iPod/iTunes interfaces just to get them out of the way. No word on whether or not this settlement lets Apple reduce how much it pays if the patent owner successfully gets others to license the patent.

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  1.  
    identicon
    Charon, Sep 1st, 2006 @ 12:40pm

    WTF..

    Our patent system seriously needs to be reformed. But before it changes Im going to patent walking one foot in front of the other so everyone will have to pay me to walk anywhere. Ill be rich!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
    identicon
    Data Plumber, Sep 1st, 2006 @ 12:50pm

    Re: WTF...

    You can't patent walking, duh! People have been doing that forever.

    Now, walking WHILE CARRYING A COMPUTER is clearly a patentable new idea...

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  
    identicon
    genius, Sep 1st, 2006 @ 1:14pm

    Re: Re: WTF...

    I think that I will patent rubbing one out while looking at porn on a computer.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Sep 1st, 2006 @ 1:18pm

    I'm going to patent patents. I'm also going to patent the patenting of patents. Then I'm going to patent patent-reform. I think I am going to patent the discussion of patenting between people on any comunications device (not just electronic, all of them).

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Sep 1st, 2006 @ 1:19pm

    wait. what are patents again?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Sep 1st, 2006 @ 1:24pm

    Just patent data changing sound waves form analog to digital and digital to analog so you will get both the recording and playback ends of things. While at it you should work on a patent for a device that absorbs all light frequencies except for the ones that you want represented that way you will be able to go after all persons that makes a device that you can see.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Sep 1st, 2006 @ 1:36pm

    brilliant!

    i now own the patent for responding to posts on blogs! HA! PAY ME NOW BITCHES!!!!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Sep 1st, 2006 @ 1:38pm

    hell

    i also just patented blogging... and using not entering a name for blogs resulting in an anonymous coward post... so, uh, techdirt [cough cough] ... my money?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  
    identicon
    Gabriel Tane, Sep 1st, 2006 @ 1:42pm

    New USPO department

    There needs to be a new department for handling these kinds of patent applications...

    Ready for it?...

    The Dee-Dee-Department.

    Yes. Thank you. Thank you.

    (PS. Sorry if that's not as funny as I think it is. Sleep dep. Meh.)

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  
    identicon
    Year, Sep 1st, 2006 @ 2:28pm

    Rising Patent Stats

    Is this trend going to continue?

    http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/annual/2005/060406_table6.html

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  11.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Sep 1st, 2006 @ 4:15pm

    #9 reply

    Dee-Dee-Department??

    why is that funny????

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  12.  
    identicon
    Scottux, Sep 1st, 2006 @ 5:44pm

    Dee-Dee-Department

    It should be the Dee-Dee-Dee Department.
    And Carlos Mencia probably holds the patent on that, or at least could win a patent case.

    This is ridiculous.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  13.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Fool, Sep 2nd, 2006 @ 10:36pm

    Hehe

    I think I'll patent "walking with a portable music device"... Nokia, Vodafone, and Apple will owe me billions!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  14.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Sep 3rd, 2006 @ 5:27am

    How about patenting the proccess of filing a lawsuit against someone for inringing on a patent and/or copyright?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  15.  
    icon
    Gabriel Tane (profile), Sep 5th, 2006 @ 6:18am

    I've got the trump

    Since having a hand in the creation or innovation of something (apparently) isn't a requirement to own the patent on it, I'm going to patent the process of a neuron firing. Hell, someone else already patented a chemical process that occurs in nature, so why can't I? OOOOhhhhhh the money I'd be owed.

    Oh... crap. Neurons don't fire that much anymore, do they. Damnit. Another great idea defeated by humanity.

    Oh, sorry 'bout the Dee-Dee-Dee thing. I thought that since "department" started with "de", that it could replace the last "dee". And as I said... it was funny in my mind, but I was enjoying the thrills of sleep dep.

    Hmm... maybe I can patent the satirical application of Dee-Dee-Dee to other situations.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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