Digital Home Thoughts: Creative Sues Apple, Now Apple Sues Creative

"Shares of Creative Technology, the Singapore consumer electronics group, fell on Friday after Apple Computer filed a counter-suit in an expanding legal dispute over patent rights involving their rival digital music players. The fall came as analysts warned that a protracted and costly court battle could distract Creative's management as the company struggles to prevent further losses from its ambitious foray into the MP3 market. Apple alleged Creative infringed four patents for user-interface systems on the digital music players. The suit was filed in response to a similar allegation against Apple by Creative, which is seeking damages and the suspension of sales of the Apple iPod in the United States."

I can't say that I'm surprised, though in this fight Creative has more to lose than Apple does - Apple can afford to pay Creative a patent, but Creative's MP3 player business is hurting to bad, I don't know that they could survive having to pay Apple for infringing on four different patents. The article goes on to say that some analysts are suggesting Creative leave the MP3 player market alltogether, which I think would be a real shame. I've really liked every Creative player I've had (well, ok, the Zen Jukebox Xtra was pretty clunky) but I think they've hit a home run with their Zen Vision line and it would be a shame to cede the market to Apple.