Although it’s common knowledge that Apple Inc. didn’t invent the MP3 player, it’s obscure knowledge that the device was invented by Kane Kramer in 1979. And Apple is acknowledging the knowledge.
According to a PC Pro article, Apple is in talks to compensate Kramer for his UK patent, even though it expired in 1988. Kramer also recently appeared as a legal consultant on behalf of Apple for a different patent infringement case.
Kramer’s website displays his simple sketch of a portable digital audio player with an eerily familiar screen and four-way navigation controls.
In addition to inventing the MP3 player, Kramer also visualized a digital music store and foresaw a world where artists could easily collect royalties from their music publishers. Well, two out of three ain’t bad.
