Apple files patents on the iPod interface

In an attempt to ensure that history is not repeated, Apple has filed applications to patent the user interface for the iPod music player according to this story on News.com. As some may remember, Apple filed lawsuits against Microsoft when Windows was first released, claiming that MS had violated Apple copyrights -- Apple lost, so they have, this time, begun to seek protection under patent law. The timing of the application is certainly interesting -- the MS music store and associated hardware device(s) are supposed to go live in August.