How to use a patent effectively: Creative sues Apple, shares rise

Creative sues Apple Computers. Do you think they will win?

Creative sues Apple, shares rise dated 17 May 2006, Today Online.

Months back, there was an article in Today (Feb 20, 2006) about how Singaporean entrepreneurs are not sophisticated with IP usage. I thought that this is a good example on how to use the IP efficiently in getting two things done: (i) Restore investor confidence with rise in share prices and (ii) Fighting against a stronger competitor. Of course, the news has been all around the web yesterday in CNET and other major news agencies in the US. It will be interesting to know how the events will unfold for Creative and Apple.

Excerpts from the Today Online are here:

“Creative Technology, the maker of the Zen digital music player filed a trade complaint and a lawsuit against Apple Computer, seeking to halt sales of the iPod music player in the United States.

Creative shares bucked the broad market decline to rise 25 cents, or 2.8 per cent, to $9.15 yesterday on the news, its first gain in five days. The complaint was filed on Monday with the US International Trade Commission, while the lawsuit was filed in a federal court in California. Both claim that the iPod infringes a patent on digital players owned by Creative Labs, the US division of Singapore-based Creative Technology.”

For more news in the international arena, here is the URL for you to look at all the news in the world on Creative suing Apple. An interesting article from CNET entitled “Crave Talk: Creative vs Apple — why sue now?” give you some thoughts on the issue.

Author’s Update:
Justin Lee wrote an earlier piece on this issue. Some interesting comments have turned up in Tomorrow.Sg

Technorati Tags: Entrepreneurship, Singapore Entrepreneurs, Apple Computers, Creative, MP3 Players, Intellectual Property, Patent