I don`t recall if Creative ever collaborated with portalplayer, but EDIG certainly did. Checking portalplayer`s alliance page, no mention of Creative, but certainly EDIG is there.

Looks like others are thinking along the same lines as e.Digital management. Creative went directly after Apple rather than portalplayer, at least from this article`s account.

Should get more interesting as details emerge and hopefully EDIG nabs an IP partner to move in this direction.

Will Apple fight or settle?