Spanish tablet maker files an extortion claim against Apple

SPANISH TABLET maker Català Energy and New Technologies (NT-K) has filed a lawsuit against Apple for alleged extortion.

According to Spanish web site Tic Beat the battle between the firms began in November 2010 when Spanish customs impounded tablets designed and made by NT-K because it thought the Android tablet was a counterfeit of Apple's Ipad.

Apple was granted a short-term customs ban against NT-K's products, and the cappuccino company also filed criminal charges against NT-K after negotiations between the companies broke down.

NT-K won dismissal of Apple's case in November 2011, and the firm now claims that Apple's litigation should be considered extortion under Spanish law.

The Spanish company's low cost NT-Pad K tablet was sold for €235 euros, less than half the €600 price of the Apple device.

NT-K says it will publish documents regarding its allegations on its blog next week. µ