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Luxpro unveiled the SuperShuffle at a German technology show two years ago. The flash-based player was a near identical copy of the iPod shuffle, although its feature set differs slightly, with an FM tuner, voice recorder and support for WMA rather than AAC files. After pressure from Apple, the show's organisers forced Luxpro to remove the device.

Apple

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subsequently filed a lawsuit against Luxpro, which had in the interim dropped the Shuffle name in favour of Tangent and expanded the range. Apple sought to use Taiwan's Fair Trade Act to stop Luxpro manufacturing the products. Luxpro argued, apparently to the satisfaction of the courts, that the Tangents could easily be distinguished from the Apple player

Luxpro is now seeking damages for loss of sales as a result of the action taken in Germany and subsequently.

In a statement the company claims that, 'during trial, Apple directly, or indirectly through distributors, approached electronic sales stores, issuing stern warning [sic] and demanding all Luxpro Super Tangent, the Top Tangent, and the EZ Tangent rectangular-case MP3 players to be removed from shelves immediately, or threatened to withdraw all iPod products and legal measures will be taken.'

Apple has since redesigned the iPod shuffle, dispensing with the white chewing gum look in favour of an aluminium matchbook. The company has been asked to comment.