Publisher throws the iBook at Apple

Apple has been slapped with a lawsuit over its new iBooks brand of electronic books, from a little New York publisher that has been producing a series called ibooks for more than a decade.

The 1000-title series, which includes science fiction, comic books and educational books, has been overshadowed by the Apple juggernaut, according to the publisher JT Colby & Co, and its ibooks brand has been "rendered virtually worthless".

The trademark-infringement lawsuit filed this week demands that JT Colby receives a cut of revenue from every iBook sold by Apple, plus damages. Apple's lawyers have yet to respond.

Apple developed the iBooks format and an associated iBookstore in the build-up to the launch of the iPad last year. According to Apple last week, users have downloaded 130 million iBooks since the launch.

"Apple's massive sales, advertising and delivery of 'iBooks' has for ever linked 'iBooks' with Apple in the minds of consumers," JT Colby said.

- Independent