ZapMedia Sues Apple Over Alleged iTunes / iPod Patent Infringement

Posted on Mar 14, 2008

ZapMedia Services has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple over iTunes and the iPod because the concern believes the devices and service violates U.S. Patent Numbers 7,020,704 and 7,343,414, entitled “System and method for distributing media assets to user devices via a portal synchronized by said user devices.”

According to the patent terrorists ZapMedia, the suit was only filed after several attempts were made to resolve its issues with Apple. Zap was insistent on licensing, but Apple wasn’t going to be blackmailed, and challenged them to a court duel.

In ZapMedia’s filing with the Marshall Division of the District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, they are attempting to position themselves as the poor victim. “The Complaint alleges that ZapMedia Services’ property is being exploited in a manner which is unlawful, and by law ZapMedia Services is therefore entitled to a reasonable royalty on Apple’s revenues related to the infringement,” said Steven G. Hill, of Hill, Kertscher & Wharton, LLP, lead litigation counsel to ZapMedia Services.