iPod Official Owner of “Billion Dollar Patent”
12.01.06 - 05:46pm
With an out-of-court settlement Apple now has a very powerful patent in hand. “The future of the whole cell phone, iPod and PDA industry. That’s the billion dollar patent.” said Michael Starkweather who wrote the patent in 1996 for Mr Contois a Vermont inventor. “I believe that, with this patent in hand, Apple will eventually be after every phone company, film maker, computer maker and video producer to pay royalties on every download of not just music but also movies and videos.”
The patent covers the downloading of music and video to external devices for playing. This technology is essential to the iPod and other music and video technology. It covers iTunes software which is the primary access point to Apple’s industry-leading music store. Had it landed in someone else’s hands it would have been a serious threat to Apple.
The suit was filed against Apple in February 2006 by Mr Contois and his company, Contois Music and Technology, claiming that iTunes software violated his patent in 21 different ways. He said Apple stole the patent from him. He asked the court for monetary damages and an order to prevent Apple from distributing iTunes.
The patent was awarded to Apple in a out of court settlement. The terms of Apple’s settlement with Mr. Contois have not been disclosed.
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