Kramer invented the iPod?
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No, not that Kramer.
Apple has finally admitted that a British man who left school at 15 is the inventor behind the iPod, according to news in the Daily Mail. MacWorld is also reporting here that it appears Kramer's claim to have invented some element of the music player was borne out by Apple in its case against Burst.com. Apple flew Kramer to California to give evidence during that trial - Kramer could prove prior art in the case.
Apple used Mr Kramer’s patents and drawings to defend itself in the legal wrangle with Burst last September and he gave evidence under fire from Burst’s lawyers.
Mr Kramer, of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, said: ‘I was up a ladder painting when I got the call from a lady with an American accent from Apple saying she was the head of legal affairs and that they wanted to acknowledge the work that I had done.
‘I must admit that at first I thought it was a wind-up by friends. But we spoke for some time, with me still up this ladder slightly bewildered by it all, and she said Apple would like me to come to California to talk to them.
'Then I had to make a deposition in front of a court stenographer and videographer at a lawyers’ office. The questioning by the Burst legal counsel there was tough, ten hours of it. But I was happy to do it.’
The dispute between Apple and Burst.com has since been settled confidentially out of court.
Mr Kramer said: ‘To be honest, I was just so pleased that finally something that I had done which has been a huge success and changed the music industry was being acknowledged. I was really quite emotional about it all.’
He is now negotiating with Apple to gain some compensation from the copyright that he owns on the drawings.
But so far he has received only a consultancy fee for providing his expertise in the legal case.
Mr. Kramer, who organizes the annual British Invention Show, is now working on an invention he claims will be bigger than the iPod.
By the way, here is a list of that other Kramer's ideas and inventions.
