Apple faces patent suit over iTunes

[Tami]

Apple faces patent suit over iTunes
by Matthew Yi

A Vermont firm has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple Computer Inc. alleging that the Cupertino computer company illegally copied the user interface on its iTunes software.

Contois Music Technology Llc claims it first showed off its music-playing software in November 1995 at Comdex, a high-tech trade show in Las Vegas, and at a music industry trade show the following year in Southern California.

The technology was eventually patented in 1999, according to the lawsuit.

Apple's iTunes software is a key piece of the firm's digital music strategy that includes its online music store and the popular iPod portable music player.

The 10-page complaint, which was filed on June 13 in a federal court in Vermont, seeks preliminary and permanent injunctions and unspecified damages.

Apple had no comment on the law suit. Telephone calls to the lawyers for Contois were not returned on Tuesday.

[url=\"http://www.sfgate.com\"]source: SF Chronicle[/url]