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Apple Settles With Creative For $100 Million

Apple and Creative have resolved their legal disputes which started on May 15th of this year when Creative and Apple sued each other claiming patent infringement. According to a joint-press release, Apple will pay Creative $100 million USD to settle all outstanding lawsuits.

"Creative is very fortunate to have been granted this early patent," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "This settlement resolves all of our differences with Creative, including the five lawsuits currently pending between the companies, and removes the uncertainty and distraction of prolonged litigation."


The $100 million settlement grants Apple a license to use Creative's patents in all of its products including the iPod. Also announced is that Creative is joining Apple's "Made for iPod" program, and will be introducing an array of iPod accessories later this year.

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72 months ago
Whoa..

http://www.macminute.com/2006/08/23/apple-creative/

Guess they realized they couldn't win..
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72 months ago
$100 million? Yikes. :eek:
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72 months ago
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72 months ago

In addition, the companies announced that Creative has joined Apple's "Made for iPod" program and will be announcing their own iPod accessory products later this year.


:eek:

...Sim Wong Hoo throwing in the towel? NEVER!

EDIT: Yeah, the $100 million is kinda shocking, too... :D
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72 months ago

$100 million? Yikes. :eek:


Yup. how much does Jobs saying "Creative is very fortunate to have been granted this early patent" say to you? Pissed off is the roundabout answer!
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72 months ago
Really, though $100 million isn't all that significant to a company with reserves like Apple has, vs. having a possible patent infringement hanging over them that could, given a ruling against them, cost much more.
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72 months ago

Really, though $100 million isn't all that significant to a company with reserves like Apple has, vs. having a possible patent infringement hanging over them that could, given a ruling against them, cost much more.


Maybe not, but why do I think Apple could have bought the entire company for that kind of dough?
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72 months ago
Creative's stock up 30% in after-hours trading. The $100 million is a drop in the bucket for Apple, but it will certainly help Creative...
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72 months ago

Maybe not, but why do I think Apple could have bought the entire company for that kind of dough?

Ha! Probably crossed their minds.
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72 months ago

Really, though $100 million isn't all that significant to a company with reserves like Apple has, vs. having a possible patent infringement hanging over them that could, given a ruling against them, cost much more.


I guess so. It's good that there's been a settlement though. For both companies I think this is a positive outcome.
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