The company claims it gave Apple written notice of its patent in September 2004, and also alleges Apple was aware of its patent as early as Jan. 30, 2003.

The lawsuit said Contois owner David Contois displayed his idea for a music-playing computer interface software Get your FREE Oracle Database Software Kit today! at the Comdex event in November 1995 and again at a music trade show in 1996.

In a second claim, Hong-Kong-based Pat-rights charged that Apple's digital rights management technology violates a patent the company was granted in December 2003 for a method of "protecting publicly distributed software from unauthorized use" and a subprogram for authenticating user computers.

Contois claims to have notified Apple in writing of its patent in September 2004 but believed that Apple became aware of the patent on its own more than 18 months earlier in January 2003.

Since its launch in Jan. 2001, Apple's iTunes software has grown to serve an installed user-base of millions and is distributed free-of-charge via Apple's website as well as with each iPod digital music player the company sells