ZapMedia Services files patent infringement lawsuit against Apple over iPod and iTunes
Company said it presented Apple with its device before iPod hit the market
Industry: Computer Technology
Defendant: Apple, Inc.
Plaintiff: Zapmedia Services, Inc.
Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
Result:
Source: “Apple faces lawsuit over iTunes, iPod, more,” MacNN.com, March 12, 2008; “Zapmedia Services, Inc. v. Apple, Inc.,” Justia Case Information, June 8, 2008
On March 12, 2008, ZapMedia Services Inc. filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple, Inc., claiming the computer manufacturer used its media distribution inventions without its permission.
ZapMedia owns two patents entitled “System and method for distributing media assets to user devices via a portal synchronized by said user devices” and “System and method for distributing media assets to user devices and managing user rights of the media assets.” The patents involve the technology surrounding Apple’s iPod, iTunes, and iTunes store structure.
After filing for the first patent in 2000, ZapMedia said it extended its idea to several corporations, including Apple. The company said Apple then announced its similar system without asking for permission from ZapMedia.
The intellectual property lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
