So Apple and Microsoft Walk Into The Patent Office...

Well, well. Look what I found at The Independent:

"Apple Computer may be forced to pay royalties to Microsoft for every iPod it sells after it emerged that Bill Gates's software giant beat Steve Jobs' firm in the race to file a crucial patent on technology used in the popular portable music players. The total bill could run into hundreds of millions of dollars.

Although Apple introduced the iPod in November 2001, it did not file a provisional patent application until July 2002, and a full application was filed only in October that year.

In the meantime, Microsoft submitted an application in May 2002 to patent some key elements of music players, including song menu software.

The dispute, which emerged this week on the closely watched website, Appleinsider.com, could lead to Apple having to pay a licence fee for the technology of up to $10 a machine."

The AppleInsider has more on the story:

"A near three-year-long attempt by Apple Computer to patent the menu-based software interface of its popular iPod digital music player has ultimately proved unsuccessful, AppleInsider has discovered.

The company's patent application, which lists Apple vice president Jeff Robbin and Apple chief executive Steve Jobs as two of its primary inventors, received a final rejection last month from the United States Patent and Trademark Office."

Here. Let me channel Steve Jobs for a second.

"Ow! It burns! It burns! Make it stop!"

And here's Bill Gates, to make sure both sides of the story are represented:

"I'd just like to say a big "thanks" to everyone who helped my Evil Empire, er, I mean, Microsoft, to get this far - Jane, Charlie, the folks at the US Patents office, Stevie B., Satan..oh, man! I hope I didn't miss anyone!"

Related: Search for more Apple-related goodness with my Apple Macintosh Resources.