On May 15, 2006, Singapore-based Creative Technology Ltd. filed a claim which alleges that Apple Computers infringed upon its U.S. Patent, which the company refers to as the “ZEN Patent.” Today the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has voted to institute an investigation of the matter, while stressing that by investigating, the ITC has not yet made any decisions regarding the actual merits of the case. Creative asserts that the ZEN Patent covers the user interface in its own portable digital media players, as well as the iPod, iPod Nano and iPod Mini. The complaint alleges violations of the Tariff Act of 1930 and requests that the ITC issue Apple a permanent exclusion order and permanent cease and desist order. The case will be referred to an ITC administrative law judge, who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing, as well as set a target date for completing the investigation. Don’t give up your iPod any time soon, as a decision is likely a long way off.
