Creative has filed a lawsuit against Apple Computers. Creative alleges that the Apple’s iPod nanos and iPods infringe upon US patent #6,928,433. Creative calls this patent the “ZEN” patent. That patent was filed on August 9, 2005.

Creative claims that it’s engineers invented the user interface of the ZEN. They were apparently trying to find a way to easily organize and access songs on a large storage music player.

Creative implemented the patented user interface on the NOMAD Jukebox Player which they display at the 2000 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Now that user interface has been implemented into other Creative Players, the Vision:M being the most recent. Other competing music players, including Apple’s have allegedly used the interface.

Creative is seeking damages and an exclusion order and cease and desist order against Apple Computers. These orders would disallow Apple from being involved in sales, marketing, importation or sale after importation into the United States, or other infringing activities the Creative feels violates the patent in the United States with regard to the infringing iPod and iPod Nano products.

Technorati Tags: Gazotto, Apple, Creative,patent, lawsuit.

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