Apples iPod patent fiasco

This is one of those stories that are totally unbelievable!

Apple’s iPod UI patent application was denied, because Microsoft had applied for a similar patent 5 months earlier.

Making matters worse is the fact that – sit down for this – the Microsoft patent application was submitted months after release of the iPod.

Gee, somebody goofed?

Does this mean that Jobs, who must be fuming that he only got $150m while McNealy got $2b, may have to give the $150m back to MSFT as royalties.

Got a word for this if it is true and AAPL has to pay MSFT:

I-R-O-N-Y!