Apple Bursting To Sue Over Patents

The nascent video download market Apple has tried to develop with iTunes and the video iPod could mean paying Burst some serious technology licensing fees. Microsoft had to part with $60 million to get Burst.com off its back in April 2005 over the usage of Burst's intellectual property. That technology appears in the Windows Media Player. Apple could end up paying more. Tech pundit Robert X. Cringely The two sides had been negotiating a licensing agreement. Now, Apple wants the patents in question declared invalid, or for the court to find Apple's use does not infringe upon them, MacDailyNews anticipated the potential for a lawsuit in an earlier column in December 2005. He sees this development as enhancing the interest around the forthcoming MacWorld conference. Email the author Del.icio.us") | Yahoo! My Web David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.