Apple accusation involves iTunes

Apple and several news organizations have been named as defendants in a new patent infringement lawsuit, brought by a California business called Online News Link. The company accuses the other parties in the suit of violating US patent 7,508,789, awarded in March of this year, which describes a system for the fast search and retrieval of broadcast information over the Internet. "The amount of information delivered is preferably sufficient to satisfy the needs of a large number of subscribers so they do not have to obtain additional information using the bi-directional channel," the patent reads, adding that "the broadcast information is stored on fast storage media located at subscriber sites."

The complaint against Apple is specifically directed towards iTunes, and its "email and Web-based products, systems, and services offered," according to ONL's court filing. "Each Defendant has purposefully and voluntarily placed one or more of its infringing products, services, and systems into the stream of commerce," the company charges.

Some of the other defendants named include Dow Jones, Forbes, TheStreet and The Dallas Morning News. The suit is being processed through the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, where ONL is asking for a jury trial, with the aim of recouping costs and damages. Many such cases are settled out of court.

by MacNN Staff