Last I heard, there were over 1,000 accessories available for the iPod. Many carry the “Made for iPod” label, which means they have been certified by Apple to be compatible, and the manufacturers have to pay a royalty for the privilege. These accessories cover the gamut from simple car adapters, to loudspeakers, FM transmitters, remote [...]

Technology companies maintain large legal staffs devoted to intellectual property matters. Patents are routinely applied for to cover even the most innocuous inventions, just in case a rival company might get there first. So it comes as no surprise to learn that Apple Computer is only one of a number of companies that routinely tries [...]