A US class-action lawsuit has been launched against Apple over
links between its iTunes music store and iPod music players. The
action follows similar charges in Europe, brought by a French
consumer rights group.
By John Leyden for The
Register.
This story has been reproduced with permission.
News of the suit, filed in California in July, came in a
disclosure by Apple that formed part of its report to the US
Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday. Apple's November
submission to dismiss the suit, filed by aggrieved punter Melanie
Tucker, was turned down on 11 December, Computerworld
reports.
The lawsuit alleges Apple violated anti-trust laws by using
content protection technology to protect music purchased from its
iTunes music store that frustrates the ability of users to play
downloaded tracks on anything other than an iPod. It also objects
to Apple's lack of transparency to consumers over this
incompatibility. The suit seeks to force Apple into breaking the
tie-up between iTunes and iPod players as well as the payment of
unspecified damages to punters who downloaded music after April
2003.
© The Register
2007
