Apple Loses iPod Playlist Patent Trial, Ordered to Pay $8 Million

[Phillip Swanson]

A federal jury decided against Apple in a patent infringement suit that originially included Sirius XM Radio, Coby Electronics, Archos and Personal Audio.

The suit alleged that Apple violated two patents related to downloadable playlists for iPods. Apple was ordered to pay Personal Audio $8 Million in damages, the remaining companies settled out of court last year.

The two patents in question were U.S. patent 6,199,076 "Audio Program Player Including a Dynamic Program Selection controller" and patent 7,509,178 "Audio Program Distribution Playback System." These patents describe an audio player that can download playlists and navigate backward and forward through the lists. Apple maintains the patents were invalid and they did not use them.

The courts decided otherwise, but the $8 million is chump change compaired to the $84 million Personal Audio was looking for. Also, considering Apple has roughly $60 Billion in cold hard cash, the decision might as well been a victory.

Source: Bloomberg

[jOnGarrett]

victory my ***. apple lost. get over it.

[Phillip Swanson]

From a legal standpoint they lost. But, the punishment is the same type of punishment Bank of America and large financial institutions have been dealt in the wake of the financial crisis. The punishments do nothing to deter further reckless and illegal behavior. It's simply viewed as a cost of doing business.

[ctt1wbw]

How can someone have a patent on a downloadable playlist? Man, the patent system in the US is so ****** up it's unreal. You can patent vapor and get away with it.

[Amraam]

Good to see Apple on the losing side for once

[bignighttrain]

Waste of the courts time only 8 mill of the 68 mill they wanted it's a victory for apple indeed.

[RICO_]

Doesn't matter if it's "chump change" to Apple....that kind of money should never be considered that....it's still 8 million dollars that went out the window. Think of all the things 8 million dollars could get you nowadays. If any billionaire saw 8 million dollars of his money disappear I guarantee he would be upset. Doesn't matter how rich you are....that's still alot of money to lose that you didn't originally plan to.

I'm pretty sure if someone went and sued Apple for Even 1 million dollars Apple would do everything to fight it. They're essentially the richest penny-pushing company I've ever seen.

[Bassvictim]

Who cares. They tried to pull some **** - it backfired, so they ended up buying the patents. Business transaction is what it turned out to be. Instead of getting it for free, they bought it. For 8 million instead of 84 million - so,yeah, they really didn't lose anything - they made out. They're not billionaires for being stupid - they knew the consequences and were prepared,and got what they wanted. End of story.

[RICO_]

Who cares. They tried to pull some **** - it backfired, so they ended up buying the patents. Business transaction is what it turned out to be. Instead of getting it for free, they bought it. For 8 million instead of 84 million - so,yeah, they really didn't lose anything - they made out. They're not billionaires for being stupid - they knew the consequences and were prepared,and got what they wanted. End of story.

When did they buy the patent? They paid to infringe on the patent....not for the patent itself. And I'm pretty sure it's $8 million (or retail price of 13,333 16gb iPhone 4s) more than what they thought they would have to pay.....so actually they LOST on the deal.

Apple has always been painted out to be a highly innovative company. And while that may be true in a sense, the mere fact that they are consistently violating or being accused of violating so many patents deeply troubles me. And if this is how UN-steep the penalty will get for patent infringements, then it looks like Apple has got plenty of cash lying around for many more patent infringements in their future "innovative" devices.

[EskimoRuler]

Apple probably just laughed and asked "Thats it"!

[RICO_]

Apple probably just laughed and asked "Thats it"!

Like I said. I'm sure it's $8 million more than what they were hoping to pay. I bet they're more upset about the fact that they lost rather than the money.

What I wanna know is where is the article about Apple losing the $600 million lawsuit by Nokia back in June in which Apple used Nokia's patents and technology to revolutionize Apple's own phones back in 2007? And they're paying the ENTIRE sum to Nokia....not a portion like in this case....plus they have to pay Nokia royalties on future iPhone quarterly sales.

And while $600 million may only be 1% of Apple's total cash on hand, I'm pretty sure it still stings and they're not sitting around laughing about that kind of cheddar going right out the window.

[done1234]

When did they buy the patent? They paid to infringe on the patent....not for the patent itself. And I'm pretty sure it's $8 million (or retail price of 13,333 16gb iPhone 4s) more than what they thought they would have to pay.....so actually they LOST on the deal.

Apple has always been painted out to be a highly innovative company. And while that may be true in a sense, the mere fact that they are consistently violating or being accused of violating so many patents deeply troubles me. And if this is how UN-steep the penalty will get for patent infringements, then it looks like Apple has got plenty of cash lying around for many more patent infringements in their future "innovative" devices.

Are you kidding? Every phone/computer company is infringing like crazy. If companies paid for every patent your phone would cost $3000.00. Everything any company can think of is getting a patent, they hope that it's some that everyone wants. You know your butt hair has a patent on it to be a antenna.

[RICO_]

Are you kidding? Every phone/computer company is infringing like crazy. If companies paid for every patent your phone would cost $3000.00. Everything any company can think of is getting a patent, they hope that it's some that everyone wants. You know your butt hair has a patent on it to be a antenna.

And where's the proof that EVERY company does this? Because there is a difference between infringing and legally purchasing a license to use features or products patented by other companies.

[spider_romeo]

Ooohh shot, this make iDevice more expensive in the future....

[danelgran]

Please...8 million dollars IS a lot of money.....to you and me.....to Apple? Hardly!

I doubt anyone at Apple is losing sleep over this victory...err... I mean 'loss'.

Doesn't matter if it's "chump change" to Apple....that kind of money should never be considered that....it's still 8 million dollars that went out the window. Think of all the things 8 million dollars could get you nowadays. If any billionaire saw 8 million dollars of his money disappear I guarantee he would be upset. Doesn't matter how rich you are....that's still alot of money to lose that you didn't originally plan to.

I'm pretty sure if someone went and sued Apple for Even 1 million dollars Apple would do everything to fight it. They're essentially the richest penny-pushing company I've ever seen.