Compliance Toolkit
Story: Microsoft pips Apple to iPod patent
Posted by: Thomas Barta (Monday 15 August 2005, 5:58 PM)
Patents are supposed to end up with the "first to invent". Apple was very likely first to invent here, since the iPod was on the shelves before the MSFT application was filed.Even if MSFT was first to invent-- they jotted something down on paper well before the iPod-- they need to show diligence in reducing their invention to practice, which, in this case, would be a high hurdle. I expect that after several years of back and forth, ultimately, the MSFT patent will be revoked as frivolous.
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