Tech Shout!

Worldwide leader in Digital Entertainment products Creative, has sued Apple Computers because the software used in Creative’s ‘Zen’ series of MP3 players, is supposedly used in Apple’s iPods. The ‘Zen’ patent was granted to Creative in August 2005 and the company has now issued a legal attack against Apple for using the patented software without prior permission. Creative has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission and a lawsuit in United States District Court for the Northern District of California alleging patent infringement.

The software in question is a user interface which helps to manage digital music files into categories, making it easier to sort and search music files on the player. Now, Creative claims that Apple has breached on the intellectual property rights of the company by using the same interface in the iPod , iPod Nano, and iPod Mini.

According to the US International Trade Commission, Creative is seeking an elimination order and a cease and desist order against Apple. In addition, Creative has also filed a case against Apple in the US seeking an order and increased damages for Apple’s “Willful infringement of the Zen patent.”

Creative announced that the orders would forbid Apple Computers from engaging in sales, marketing and importation into the U.S and other infringing activities with regard to the iPod and iPod Nano products.