Apple and Creative Make Up
Remember the legal wranglings between Apple Computers and Creative. Well seems everything has been patched up now. Creative was suing Apple because it claimed that the iPod was abusing the “Zen Patent” - a music managing software that Creative claimed it patented before Apple used it in its iPod.
Well, it seems to all be over now and Creative has gotten a pretty good end of the deal. It managed to pry away $100 million to use the software Creative had produced. However, if Creative licenses the software to other companies Apple may get some of its money back.
That’s not all though. Creative also - get this- has joined the Made for iPod program and will be selling iPod accessories.
Now I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit confused. Creative has produced many media players and its best one is probably the Vision:M. Is Creative feeling the iPod burn? Or are they trying to get some cash on this iPod craze?
Seems to be really a bit of both. Sim Wong Hoo, chairman and CEO of Creative stated: “Apple has built a huge ecosystem for its iPod . . . we are very excited about this new market opportunity for our speaker systems, our just-introduced line of earphones and headphones, and our future family of X-Fi audio enhancement products.”
And since the Creative players aren’t as popular as Apple’s iPod, it’s nice to get a piece of the (money) pie.
Steve Jobs pretty much summarized Apple’s position best: “Creative is very fortunate to have been granted this early patent.” This settlement drops all 5 lawsuits and officially states that Creative and Apple have made up.
