iTunes is billed as a music 'service, which it isn't. Instead, it's the name of the software front-end for the Apple iPod music player, and it's supported financially by users, who also pay for its consumer control DRM.

Apple was hauled over the coals for monopolistic practices in Norway and other parts of Europe and went so far as to threaten to withdraw its 'services' in France if Apple fuhrer Steve Jobs wasn't allowed to continue to tell users what they could do and couldn't do with 'product' they'd already paid through the nose for. A French consumer group is suing Apple.

It took a while but finally, Apple is now also being sued in the US, and the name of the person behind the case is iTunes victim Melanie Tucker, who's looking for class-action status.

She, "alleges that Apple violates antitrust laws by refusing to allow music bought in its iTunes store to be played on any digital music player besides the iPod," says PC World. She also charges Apple with, "not making it clear to customers that music from the iTunes store and the iPod are incompatible with music and devices offered by other companies.

Turner wants Apple to be ordered to halt its support of the, "exclusive tie-in between iTunes and the iPod and that Apple pay damages to anyone who has bought an iPod or music from the iTunes store after April 28, 2003," says the story.

Meanwhile, when will the teenagers held up as file sharing criminals in a cynical Apple-Pepsi-RIAA promo also sue Apple (and others) for libel (or other)?

Also See:
Norway - Norwegian iTunes victory, June 8, 2006
sued in the US - Apple iTunes DRM troubles, December 30, 2006
PC World - Apple Sued in U.S. Over iTunes-iPod Link, January 2, 2006
cynical Apple-Pepsi-RIAA promo - Pepsi-iTunes Super Bowl ad blasted, January 30, 2004