iTunes, Sony PlayStation Network targeted in suit

Another day and another patent lawsuit. Today, we have a new lawsuit from investor Benjamin Grobler who claims Apple's iTunes and Sony's PlayStation network induce customers to violate his "data vending system" patent, says a report in Computerworld.

Grobler's US patent describes a data vending system which stores digitized music and/or video and/or computer programs on one or more main computers in a data depot. The data depot stores details about customers and the data they have purchased or rented. There's also a data dispensing device that ties into the data depot.

The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California and asks for a judgement that Apple infringed and continues to infringe on this patent. It also seeks damages which will decided upon during the trial.