Apple Sued for Monopolistic Practices

One man alleges that the happy relationship between iTunes and the iPod may be more than savvy marketing: It may break Florida antitrust and fair trade laws.

Apple’s legal woes seemingly never end. If they aren’t being sued over hearing loss, touch screen patents, or the iPhone’s battery life, it’s something else entirely. The latest legal complaint:  iTunes and the iPod allegedly constitute a monopoly.

According to AppleInsider, Florida resident Frederick Black filed a class action lawsuit against Apple back in August, alleging that the content restrictions on both iPods and music downloaded from iTunes violate Florida’s antitrust and fair trade laws. The problem lies in the iPod’s nonexistent support for downloaded music from other vendors, and in iTunes’ inability to transfer paid-for music to players that aren’t iPods.

Black’s attorneys wrote in the complaint that Apple “…by controlling such a large part of the portable digital media player market, the online music market and the online video market, maintains sufficient economic power in these markets to control consumer pricing in these markets, which has resulted in consumers paying higher prices.”

Black seeks damages of around $15,000, treble damages (a magnification of damages, used by courts as a punishment), and attorney fees.