Tech Shout!

Apple is sued again!This time Atlanta-based ZapMedia Services has sued the iPod maker over its iTunes online music store and iPod music players. ZapMedia Services said that Apple is illegally using a patented method for distributing digital media over internet.

ZapMedia has raised a question over the way of sending music and other digital content from servers to multiple media players. The company claims to have created a way for gaining control over their digital media assets in 1990s and had patented it too.

ZapMedia also claims to have met various other technology and media companies, including Apple for explaining them about technology.

Now, ZapMedia is expecting royalties on Apple’s sales of iPods and iTunes music, which reached nearly $11 billion last year. According to market researcher NPD Group, Apple’s iTunes is the top 2 music retailer in US.

Moreover, ZapMedia also said that before file a lawsuit, it has made several attempts to discuss licensing with Apple, however Apple rejected the offer.

“When someone takes our vision and our intellectual property without a license after several attempts, we have no option but to protect it through every means available to us,” Robert Frohwein, ZapMedia’s general counsel, said in a statement.

Apple has not commented anything over the issue as of now.