Kane Kramer’s IXI patent inspired Apple’s iPod creation
What was the inspiration behind Apple’s extremely popular iPod? It appears the original idea didn’t come from Apple, and in fact, British inventor, Kane Kramer, invented the device in 1979, at the age of 23.
Kramer didn’t call his device the iPod. His invention was named IXI. The prototype he developed was a digital audio player. It had a screen along with central navigation controls. It was capable of playing three-and-a-half-minutes capacity digital audio player. How did Apple stumble upon Kramer’s idea? Kramer’s patent became public domain after his company IXI went bankrupt in 1988. Unfortunately, he was unable to raise the money required to renew the patent in over 120 countries. Obviously, Apple was one of the companies to check out Kramers patent, liked what it saw and eventually created what we know as the iPod.
In 2007 Apple recognized Kramer for his invention. Apple contacted Kane Kramer regarding an ongoing dispute it had with Burst.com. Apple, Microsoft, and many other digital media companies have been disputing with Burst.com for years.
Burst.com, a company based in Santa Rosa, California, holds numerous patents for streaming audio and video over networks. The problem is that many of these patents are broad. Microsoft settled with Burst.com about three years ago. Many other companies have settled also; however, Apple has always maintained that Burst.com patents are too general to be implemented.
UK’s Mail Online states that after Apple contacted Kane Kramer he was flown out to California to speak with Apple in person. Kramer said:
‘I must admit that at first I thought it was a wind-up by friends. But, we spoke for some time, with me still up this ladder slightly bewildered by it all, and she said Apple would like me to come to California to talk to them. ’Then I had to make a deposition in front of a court stenographer and videographer at a lawyers’ office. The questioning by the Burst legal counsel there was tough, ten hours of it. But I was happy to do it.
Lucky for Apple that Kane Kramer was accommodating since Apple was able to use Kramer’s drawings along with his patents to defend itself with its ongoing dispute with Burst.com last September. Apple and Burst.com settled the dispute confidentially out of court. Has Kramer been compensated for his patent?
According to UK’s Mail Online he received a compensation fee for his service and he is currently in negotiations with Apple to receive compensation for his idea. If you log onto Kane Kramer’s website it states that he was recognized by Apple for his invention and has been serving as an expert consultant. Personally I hope he is duly compensated for a device many of us enjoy today.
Over 180 million iPods have sold since Apple launched it on October 23, 2001. Apple currently has several portable media players available; the hard-drive based iPod Classic, video capable iPod nano, tiny and screenless iPod Shuffle, the touch screen iPod touch, the first and second generation iPhone, and now the fourth generation iPods which were announced at the Apple’s Let’s Rock event.
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Isn’t the “idea” for an iPod-like device really something that Star Trek tricorders or communicators started?
May 5th, 2009
this is so stupid