Intertainer, which was one of the pioneers in delivering movies over the Internet, has sued Apple Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), and Napster Inc. (NASDAQ:NAPS). Intertainer was so early into the Internet movie business that it folded. Or, maybe it was just badly run.

Intertainer claims that the companies listed in its complaint violate patents to its digital entertainment platform.

The idea that Intertainer could collect something on its suit is not entirely insane. Creative Technology brought an IP suit against Apple for certain interfaces on the iPod, and Creative ended up collecting a large settlement.

Burst.com, a defunct server technology company, filed IP suits against Apple and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT). Microsoft settled the suit for $60 million.

The only way Intertainer may get any money from its business is to win one of these suits. Some law firm must be willing to take some risk on that.

You never know.

Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.

Burst.com is coming off a win against Microsoft, which settled a patent infringement case the little company brought for $60 million. Next on the David vs. Goliath fight tickets is Apple. 

Since late 2005, Apple and Burst.com have been trading barbs. Thus far, Apple has filed a legal action to have Burst's video and audio delivery software patents declared invalid. Burst's response is the announcement today that it has filed conterclaims against Apple of infringing on four of Burst's patents.

Burst's counter claims are against Apple's iTunes Music Store, iTunes software, the iPods, and QuickTime Streaming products. Pretty much Apple's entire video/music line.  It's going to be an interesting case to watch, and might cause the same level of stir that RIM recently faced.  Burst founder Richard Lang seems like he's got the determination and grit to sink in and really pursue this.