Apple, Creative Sued Over Random Play Integration in Cars
A patent troll is suing Apple, Creative and Philips over the "random" play feature in audio players compatible with car audio systems.
As the random play integration is an integral part of MP3 players, it is reasonable to assume that the plaintiff, Smart Audio Technologies, will be betting on the more general feature value of iPods and similar devices to squeeze license fees out of the defendants.
As it is common in such cases, Smart Audio Technologies is not a company with substantial history: It is a shell entity that was founded in Texas in 2011 and apparently operates with the sole purpose to monetize the 6,185,163 patent that is now used against Apple, Creative and Philips. Interestingly enough, USPTO records do not reveal Smart Audio Technologies as the legal owner of this patent. At the time of this writing, the assignee was still Delphi Technologies. The patent was initially issued in February of 2011 and describes a "vehicle audio system having random access player with play list control". The simple feature is the initiation of shuffle play without interrupting the "generation of output of the player". The patent does not refer to external devices such as iPods, but to the audio system installed in a vehicle.
The other interesting twist in this case is the fact that Smart Audio Technologies is represented by law firm Farnan LLP, which was founded by Joseph Farnan, a former District Court Judge for the District of Delaware and the same court the lawsuit was filed, as PaidContent.org points out. On his profile page, Farnan stresses that "during a three year period only one federal district held more patent jury trials than Mr. Farnan." So it appears that there is enough experience to deal with such lawsuits and assess their likelihood of success.
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I can't believe I'm actually supporting either of these companies, but I hope they disembowel this patent troll.
well, last year, I patented typing in the english language on the internet by using an x86 Operating System.
Pay up fools.......
... ban patents, help progress...
*Witty remark about patenting a common act of everyday life*
"The patent was initially issued in February of 2011..."
Umm...prior art anyone? I'm pretty sure music players in cars with a shuffle feature has existed well before this point. Even my 2010 Elantra has one, which was put into production in 2009, and I'm absolutely certain there are older cars with the feature too.
... ban Apple, help progress...
There, I fixed it for ya!
it's halftime and stupidity is winning
throw lawsuit out the window, next!....
Wish I can patent trolling.. so that I can actually sue everyone trolling and I can troll trollers by not giving the patent rights to anyone.. not even for all the wealth in the world.. god save the earth!!!
i guess they sue Apple to screw with them and pointing out to them that they do the same with other companies (sueing for stupid patents)....OR if they sue for real then...the world is very crazy...
well, last year, I patented typing in the english language on the internet by using an x86 Operating System. Pay up fools.......
Prior art abounds. No possible patent. Patents are for new and novel work, reduced to practice.
Legalized Extortion, by using the courts and patent system.
Another example that proves than software patents must be redefined from the ground up...
Hard to have sympathy for Creative Labs after the stunt they pulled with Carmack's Reverse.
Invented neither shuffle audio, nor invented the car. Apparently putting the two together makes an 'intelligent' process.
But it's funny, because when portable cd players came out, they have shuffle (usually) and I have had one in my car through the line-in on the stereo, which was 10 or more years ago.
This is more rediculous than Apple's slide to unlock patent.
fwiw, the patent was filed in 1999.
I... don't... want ... to live... in this world.... anymore.
Eternal facepalm T_T
Just shifty lawyers that got hands on a patent they believe they could use in a case against the big companies and created some BS company name. Leeches all around us!!!
This is dumb how can they even have patents on crap like this. Its not innovative, it isn't some idea that should be protected. This is ridiculous.
There, I fixed it for ya!
... no, you don't... ban patents, any patents... and help progress and innovation... i hate, that somebody thinks out a half baked idea, patents it, don't do a successful implementation, and don't give the opportunity to improve on a idea...
... no, you don't... ban patents, any patents... and help progress and innovation... i hate, that somebody thinks out a half baked idea, patents it, don't do a successful implementation, and don't give the opportunity to improve on a idea...
just because someone isn't able to right away doesn't mean they are trying to rip someone off. most people only have the money to submit and get the patent and may not be able to implement it for many years due to things like finances. so FAIL on thinking everyone making patents are just doing it to rip people off
oh and he he did fix it
BAN APPLE, HELP PROGRESS
We should ship all Attorneys for a tour of Duty to Afghanistan; dressed in a white T-Shirt with a big red Target circle on it...
They need to figure out a law that will stop pattent trolls that do nothing but buy patents and sue companies for money.
I... don't... want ... to live... in this world.... anymore.Eternal facepalm T_T
You know, there is a very efficient way to solve your problem. It involves a balistic firearm, an index finger, and a direct, unimpeded trajectory to your brain.
Melodramatic posts like these need to die a quick and excrutiatingly painful death.
You know, there is a very efficient way to solve your problem. It involves a balistic firearm, an index finger, and a direct, unimpeded trajectory to your brain.Melodramatic posts like these need to die a quick and excrutiatingly painful death.
Are you serious? You're new to the internet, aren't you?
I am on my way patenting breathing! Next week, I will sue everyonje who is breathing!
"The patent was initially issued in February of 2011..."Umm...prior art anyone? I'm pretty sure music players in cars with a shuffle feature has existed well before this point. Even my 2010 Elantra has one, which was put into production in 2009, and I'm absolutely certain there are older cars with the feature too.
At least half of all software patents violate prior art, so I'm afraid "prior art" is unheard of to the USPTO.
well, last year, I patented typing in the english language on the internet by using an x86 Operating System. Pay up fools.......
I'm running x64, so bite me.
really... shuffle already exist in my car, on my mp3, and on my phone since well before this patent, i even remember USB mp3 players being plugged into some cars, and the music on it being shuffled over the car audio via stereo controls.
how did this patent get issued? people need to start loosing jobs for fumbles like this, it helps no one but the trolls, and only serves the people holding back the industry.
Pretty sure shuffle was invented when CD players came out...
just because someone isn't able to right away doesn't mean they are trying to rip someone off. most people only have the money to submit and get the patent and may not be able to implement it for many years due to things like finances. so FAIL on thinking everyone making patents are just doing it to rip people offoh and he he did fix it BAN APPLE, HELP PROGRESS
... ban patents... even apple patents, all patents... and let the innovation bloom... and by the way... BAN ACTA too...!!!