Apple settles with Creative for 100 million dollars

Sat, 26 Aug 2006 02:29:17 PST

Creative and Apple announced that they have reached an agreement in their patent dispute. Apple will pay Creative 100 million dollars in exchange for the use of a license on the by Creative patented interface. However, if Creative gives their technology in license to another company, Apple will get back a part of the paid sum. Furthermore Creative has announced that they have joined the 'Made for iPod'-program and that it they will hit the market this year with iPod-accessories.

With the agreement there has come an end to the five lawsuits that both companies had to deal with. In May 2006, Creative started a legal fight with Apple because of the violation of a new patent. Apple reacted with a complaint against Creative, on which the International Trade Council started an investigation at the iPod-manufacturer. Although all lawsuits have been closed with the agreement, the investigation of the ITC however is not yet closed, so it’s still possible that this story hasn’t ended yet for Apple.