Apple's application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a patent on "rotational user inputs", as used on the iPod interface, received a third "non-final rejection" (NFR) in August 2005. Also in August 2005, Creative Technology, one of Apple's main rivals in the MP3 player market, announced that it held a patent on part of the music selection interface used by the iPod line, which Creative Technology dubbed the "Zen Patent", granted on August 9, 2005. On May 15, 2006, Creative filed another suit against Apple with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Creative also asked the United States International Trade Commission to investigate whether Apple was breaching U.S. trade laws by importing iPods into the United States. COUNT 7
QSN1 What interface component did Apple attempt to patent in 2005? ANS1 rotational user inputs QSN2 When did Apple receive a decision on its attempt to patent rotational user inputs? ANS2 August 2005 QSN3 Which competitor sued Apple over rights to part of the software user interface? ANS3 Creative Technology QSN4 What was the name of the patent over which Creative asserted its ownership? ANS4 Zen Patent QSN5 From which entity did Creative request an investigation into Apple importing their devices to the US? ANS5 United States International Trade Commission QSN6 What interface feature did Apple unsuccessfully try to patent? ANS6 rotational user inputs QSN7 Which rival company sued Apple in 2005 and 2006? ANS7 Creative Technology