Apple Sues Creative for Violating Patents

It's like an Old West gunfight: word comes that on the same day Creative sued Apple over the iPod interface, Apple sued Creative for violating four of its patents.

Seems like gunslingers aren’t the only fighters who like to play quick-draw: according to a report from Bloomberg News, Apple Computer filed a lawsuit in a Wisconsin court against Creative Labs on the very same day Creative sued Apple for infringing on its so-called “Zen” patent for interface elements on portable music players. Apple’s complaint? Creative products are violating four of Apple’s patents.

Unfortunately, very little additional information is available, including the text of Apple’s complaint. According to Bloomberg, Creative spokesperson Phil O’Shaughnessy said Apple never mentioned its patents during talks to find a resolution to Creative’s claims of patent infringement.

Apple has not commented on the suit, and almost never discusses pending litigation.

Creative’s suit against Apple asks for an injunction which would prevent Apple from importing, selling, or marketing its current iPod and iPod nano music players.