“Singapore’s Creative Technology Ltd. said Wednesday that some cellphone makers are also using its patented Zen technology without a license and that it is prepared to pursue these companies to protect Creative’s intellectual property rights,” Vladimir Guevarra reports for Dow Jones.
“‘There many MP3 player makers in the US market that are currently using the Zen technology, and there are also several cellphones that are music-enabled that are using the Zen patent,’ Craig McHugh, president of the company’s Creative Labs Inc. unit, told Dow Jones Newswires. “‘We are very open to exploring amicable solutions with any company that uses the Zen patent,’ he said in an interview. We are also ready to take the necessary steps to protect our intellectual property.'”
Guevarra reports, “The comments come after Creative last week won a $100 million settlement from Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL) over the use of the Zen technology on Apple’s popular iPod players.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Mike in Helsinki” for the heads up.]
Apple paid Creative $100 million for a paid-up license to use Creative’s recently awarded patent in all Apple products. Apple can recoup a portion of its payment if Creative is successful in licensing this patent to others. Some say that Apple’s settlement actually strengthens Creative’s patent, which will only help Apple recoup what – to Apple – amounts to petty cash anyway.
Steve Jobs is a very smart man.
Related articles:
Apple investors cheer as Jobs wins again by getting Creative – August 24, 2006
Apple and Creative settle – the bigger picture – August 24, 2006
Analyst: Apple’s relatively small settlement with Creative removes threat hanging over iPod – August 23, 2006
Apple & Creative settle: Apple pays $100M for ‘Zen’ patent, Creative plans iPod accessories – August 23, 2006
