Microsoft wins iPod navigation case

In a surprise twist to portable music wars, the US patent office has denied Apple8217;s application to patent the iPod8217;s method of using hierarchical navigation menus. The basis: A similar method outlined in a Microsoft researcher8217;s patent application, filed before Apple sought its own patent.

8216;8216;I8217;m sure there8217;s a certain amount of glee among Microsoft executives,8217;8217; said analyst Michael Gartenberg of Jupiter Research. Apple8216;s Natalie Kerris said in a statement that Apple 8216;8216;invented and publicly released the iPod interface before the Microsoft patent application.8217;8217; Microsoft doesn8217;t intend to try to block Apple from the market, said David Kaefer, business development director for Microsoft.8216;8216;Frankly, we8217;re both mutually dependent on the good ideas of another,8217;8217; Kaefer said. 8212;NYT