iPod interface patent denied; Microsoft employee holds paten...

[MacBytes]

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Category: Apple Hardware
Link: iPod interface patent denied; Microsoft employee holds patent (http://www.macbytes.com/link.php?sid=20050810111905)

Posted on MacBytes.com (http://www.macbytes.com)
Approved by Mudbug

[Gizmotoy]

The AppleInsider article this is based on is overly sensationalist, making wild claims that they do not back up. The Register has a much more thoughtful look at what is going on:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/08/10/microsoft_apple_patent/

The most recent rejection is an NFR (Non-final rejection), and the patent the office claims invalidates it (Platt's) itself has a lengthy rejection history, including an appealed Final Rejection.

It'll be a long time before this gets all sorted out.

[Sharewaredemon]

Thanks, that clears things up a bit.