Core77

James Conley argues that trademarks, not patents, comprise the real competitive advantage of the Apple iPod. A snippet:

...But I suspect that something more clever is afoot; that Apple's design strategy is in line with something we call value transference--a dynamic strategy that can be quite successful in technology markets. And if my suspicion is correct, the technology at the heart of the iPod will have little to do with their long-term competitiveness in the consumer electronics realm. Further, if we look in the right places, we can learn precisely where Apple intends to move, leveraging the design of the iPod--but not the kind of design you think.

[Read entire article here.]