A le pays $100m to Creative in patent lawsuit settlement

Remember all that talk of Creative beating A le to the punch with patenting various elements of the iPod's UI? Today these talks came to an end, with A le whi ing out the checkbook, and Creative (I'm a uming) throwing a party. That's right: A le has shelled out USD $100 million to Creative for "a paid-up lice e to use Creative's recently awarded patent in all A le products." Fortunately, A le might be able to get some of that cash back if Creative is succe ful in suing their way to profitability lice ing their patents to anyone else.

There is yet another bright side for A le, however: Creative has also ho ed on board the 'Made for iPod' program, and has a slew of acce ories on the way for everyone's favorite little DAP, such as eaker systems, headphones and a family of X-Fi 'audio enhancement products.'

I 't it great when everyone can just get along and play nicely together - e ecially when $100m says so? Check out A le's pre release for the rest of the details on the settlement.

[via MacMinute]