Creative's patent is somewhat like sorting the music according
to the Artist, Album etc, so that by selecting an artist from a
list in the MP3 player, its narrows down your search by giving you
another list of albums belonging to the selected artist, then to
the songs. Its basically a common sense way of sorting your files.
Those who have iPod or Zen players should know what I'm talking
about.
Chances are this patent may be deemed invalid. How innovating is it
to sort your music files according to its meta tags (artist, album,
genre etc)? Besides, the patent also states the use of columns view
(those with iTunes, click on Browse on the top right hand corner
and you'll get it). Columns view is already available in Apple's
NeXT systems, way before Creative filed the patent. iPod's column
view UI is based on Mac OS, not from Creative's 'innovative'
idea.
Apple is counter-suing with not 1, but 4 patent violations.
I can see 3 results from these lawsuits...
1. Creative goes backrupt when they lose the case
2. Both sides agree to withdraw their lawsuits
3. Apple loses (Seems unlikely)
