Apple has lost an attempt to patent its menu-based software interface for the iPod. Apparently they lost out to a fellow named John Platt, a senior researcher in the Knowledge Tools Group at Microsoft.
According to AppleInsider, The Apple application lists lists Apple vice president Jeff Robbin and Apple chief executive Steve Jobs as two of its primary inventors. Robbin came to Apple from Casady & Greene, a small software company which developed applications for the Mac OS platform.
AppleInsider reports that Casady & Greene was widely known among Mac users for its SoundJam MP3 player software, which Apple eventually took control of and re-branded as iTunes after hiring Robbin. In his first role as an engineering manager at Apple, Robbin was credited with leading the iPod's software development in the early days of the project.
From AppleInsider:
Platt's application describes his invention as a system or method that "generates playlists for a library collection of media items via selecting a plurality of seed items, at least one which is an undesirable seed item." The process by which the iPod's software displays its own menu-based interface is very similar to the process Platt's filing goes on to describe.
In an attempt to trump Platt's application, Robbin through his patent lawyer petitioned the patent office to review an amended set of claims last November, shortly after his initial filing had been rejected in light of Platt's.
Upon review, the patent office in July issued a 6-page document pointing to prior claims made by Platt and offering its final rejection of Robbin's application. In forming a basis for the rejection, an examiner for the patent office began by citing Platt's preexisting claims:
"Platt discloses an apparatus and a method of assisting user interaction with a multimedia asset player by way of a hierarchically ordered user interface, comprising: displaying a first order user interface having a first list of user selectable items; receiving a user selection of one of the user selectable items; and automatically transitioning to and displaying a second order user interface having a second list of user selectable items based upon the user selection."
What leverage does this provide Microsoft? Anyone have any idea where this may lead?
Alex Williams
Matt May
Nicole Simon
Roland Tanglao
1. Chidi O on August 13, 2005 12:58 PM writes...
Perhaps it would be a good idea to actually READ what is involved in the two patent applications as opposed to simply bleating out what everyone else seems to be bleating. The Register [ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/08/10/microsoft_apple_patent/ ] and Forbes [ http://www.forbes.com/home/digitalentertainment/2005/08/12/microsoft-apple-patent-cx_ld_0812microsoft.html ] shed some light on the issue.
Permalink to CommentFunny and also sad, how the net seems to be eroding our collective ability to take the time to first analyse information before ejaculating a world-wide response
2. PXLated on August 13, 2005 11:40 PM writes...
>> before ejaculating a world-wide response
Permalink to CommentBoy, ain't that the truth. Journalism is dead. It's just one big mindless echo chamber.
3. bardiel on August 14, 2005 8:23 PM writes...
So it now seems that Mi¢ro$oft has been awarded some patents for the Apple iPod, which MS had NOTHING to do with, (as evidenced by the fact that MS filed their patent six months after Apple began making and selling them), and big technology corporations around the world, (namely, M$), are surprised that most people seem to have no respect for copyright laws?
Go figure. :\
Permalink to Comment4. Challopea on August 2, 2006 12:38 AM writes...
John Platt is very famous by being extremely smart and innovative. This guy has done many great things that you would not even imagine. He has done great work in so many different areas. The playlist is just a tiny piece of work he has done, he has already moved on to some new and exciting projects. I definitely suggest you to visit his website. You will be amazed.
By the way, he just won a technical Oscar for some work he did many years ago as a graduate student at CIT on some graphics stuff. It takes the world 20 years to understand the importance of that single piece of innovation.
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