A COUPLE HAVE SUED Starbucks and Apple, alleging the two companies have ripped off their invention.

Marguerite and James Driessen claimed in a district court yesterday that they own a patent – 7,003,500 – which Apple and Starbucks use in the process of their businesses.

They claim that in March 2005 they discovered an Apple prototype called Itunes Custom Cards which is a copy of their product. They fired a letter off to Jobs’ Mob asking Apple to license the product. But after Apple got the letter, it withdrew its infringing products in America and only offered them here in Blighty.

Then, in November 2007, the married couple found another prototype being used at Starbucks outlets offering Itunes free tunes.

After some legal haggling, Apple and Starbucks redesigned their scheme to avoid infringing on the patent.

Hubby wife want damages and a jury trial. µ