Apparently even ringtones are patented

Ringtones are patented? Seriously? We haven't been able to dig up the patent in question, but apparently both Siemens and Sony Ericsson have quietly settled lawsuits filed against them by an inventor who claims to have patented the process by which cellphones play music instead of just a regular ring. Seems like the cellphone companies could argue that a simple ring itself is a form of music — but then again, anything that can be used against our old friend
Crazy Frog can't be all evil.

[Via TechDirt]