Did Microsoft Invent The iPod?

nate.oo writes "If you think Apple Computer's Steve Jobs invented the technology behind the Apple iPod, don't bet your 60GB, 15,000-song model on it. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, patent applications that cover much of the technology associated with the iPod were submitted by Microsoft."

Of Course!

[nxtr]

They also invented the Google start page! I'm too lazy to add a link. To understand joke, see Slashback from 1-2 days ago.

Live By The Sword, Die By The Sword

[Effugas]

You know, if I listen closely I can hear the laughter of thousands upon thousands of Korean engineers, and I'm in Seattle.

That's like saying

[sound+vision]

Did Al Gore invent the Internet?

Does the patent office...

[Spacejock]

... run their database on MS software? If so, why does Microsoft bother applying for patents? They could just get in through a back door and insert retroactive patents on anything they like.

(Yeah, my tinfoil hat just fell off.)

Re:Old?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sorry, but it appears you must have that second-rate news meta DotSlash mixed up with the first-class journalism of Slashdot. It's OK, everybody makes mistakes.

Re:Credit where credit's due

[mnemonic_]

Impossible. Steve Jobs invented the iPod on the 5th day.

Microsoft made the iPod.

[Lally Singh]

Microsoft invented the iPod.
Saddam had WMDs he was going to give to Bin Laden.
Big Brother Loves You.

Apple is in serious trouble

[hunterx11]

Not only have they violated Microsoft's patents, but by copying from anyone at all they have violated /.'s patent on duplication of a pre-existing entity.

Re:Steve jpbs inventor?

[Barlo_Mung_42]

"He may run the company, but he is hardly an engineer."

Are you crazy?!? Did you see the new fangled mouse he just invented? It has THREE buttons!

Correction

[suwain_2]

I think that line in the original post should read:
               +------+  +--------+
don't bet your | 60GB |, | 15,000 |-song model on it.
               +------+  +--------+

Re:Credit where credit's due

[kd5ujz]

Umm, I belive he said let there be light, not let there be white. The ipod was invented on the 6th day, thats why he accomplished nothing on the 7th.

No - mine never crashes

[joelsanda]

Did Microsoft Invent The iPod?

No. And here's proof. With each new release the iPod:

• gets smaller
• does more
• gets a simpler U.I.
• works better

That's not Microsoft.

They forgot the "Via a computer network"

[MavEtJu]

They patented a "portable, pocked-sized multimedia asset player"...

Oh boy will they feel stupid when I patent an "portable, pocked-sized multimedia asset player via a computer network"!

Re:Did M$ invent the iPod?

[tolkienfan]

AND they didn't count the mouse buttons very accurately!

Re:Consistent Ripoffs

[NickFortune]

fyi- your usage of "swpats" appears to clearly be infringing :-/

Ghastly term, but it's a proper pain typing "software patents" eighty two times in a discussion like this.

Perhaps you be interested in cross licencing against my "Method and Apparatus for Denoting Excerpted Content Using Italics and Elipses" :)

Re:Bad Article

[dannannan]

From the sound of it the patent wouldn't cover cases where you are playing stolen music on your iPod, because then you're using it as a "portable, pocket-sized multimedia liability player".

D