petersaville.net

Creative Technology may have lost to Apple Computer in the battle for global MP3 player dominance, but it could gain new markets for its speakers and headphones under a settlement deal.Apple and Creative have stunned investors Wednesday when they announced the settlement under which the US-based firm will pay Creative 100 million dollars to settle a dispute over patented technology used in its iPods and Nanos. The deal ended a budding legal battle that began earlier this month after Creative was awarded what it referred to as a "Zen patent" on technology used to select and sort songs in its Zen music player. Part of the deal allows Creative to join Apple's "Made for iPod" program. This opens up Creative to being able to produce its own range of IPOD accessory products.