Is the mini-DVI connector patented by Apple?

Does anyone know if the mini-DVI connector is patented by Apple?

I long been puzzled with Apple's fascination with wierd video connectors. It goes all the way back to Mac IIX machines with 13 pin D connectors when everything else in the civilized world had EGA or VGA D-sub connectors. Then came a slew of 7100s and Powerbooks with odd square connectors, etc.; meanwhile the rest of the world trudged on with VGA d-sub connectors.
I can see Apple was trying to capture market back when Apple-badged Monitors were a bigger piece of Apple's business. Their old moniors had captive cords that could plug directly into their strange connectors. That's not true with the annoying mini-DVI connector - MacBooks need the adapter no matter who makes the monitor. Now it looks like there's yet another new micro-DVI connector on MacBook Air machines.
There doesn't seem to be an engineering reason for the MacBook to have the mini-DVI. There is plenty of room availavle to put in a full size connector.
I think we may be looking at patent issues. Not so much Apple trying to get greedy with their own proprietary connector, but perhaps, Apple not wanting to pay the other other peoples' royalties for the more recognizable connectors.
Itwould impact sales to have no video out connector. Apple can use its own non-royaly connector, and offload the cost of the licensed connector to only people that really need it, in the form of a dongle.
We're paying premium prices for Apple products anyway, so I don't think it would be that much extra burden for us to cough up a few more dollars to have a more compatible connector.
Anybody that's worked for an A/V department has long grumbled about Apple laptops' weird video connectors. A lost video dongle for an Apple costs at least $20, whereas a standard male/male two meter VGA cord is about $4.
I rececently bought some mini-DVI to VGA dongles at a computer retailer. The Apple brand and the house brand were both $25. The house brand cable was a little longer, but not as well made as the Apple branded dongle. I bought the Apple branded dongles, suspecting they'll be a little more durable and make more reliable contact with the mini-DVI socket after repeated uses.
Bill

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