Apple faces patent lawsuit over iTunes

A lawsuit was filed last week against Apple Inc. over the alleged illegal use of a patented method of distributing music over the Internet.

According to the Associated Press, U.S. firm ZapMedia Services Inc. claimed Apple's iTunes online music store is violating two of its patents. The company is demanding royalties on iPod and iTunes sales, which amounted to almost $11 million last year, the report said.

ZapMedia had reportedly offered to license the technology to Apple but the latter declined. An Apple representative said the company doesn't comment on pending lawsuits.