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.

Market Overview:

Yesterday saw oil prices fall below $70 a barrel and the Chinese currency rise a touch -- both positive for stocks. But with some mixed news for retailers and pessimism among home builders, stocks were set to open a bit lower this morning.

Home Depot announced better than expected earnings this morning and Wal-Mart beat estimates, but lowered guidance. Hewlett-Packard announces results after the close today.

The Producer Price Index -- a reading of inflation at the wholesale level -- is due out at 8:30 a.m. That report should set the tone for the rest of the trading day. Economists expect a rise of 0.8% in April, and 0.2 for the core reading, which doesn't include food and energy.

Apple's stock is down 27 cents in pre-market trading from yesterday's close of $67.79. At 7:13 a.m., it was last traded at $67.51.

 Creative Technology is suing Apple for patent infringement over the design of the navigation system for the iPod.

A U.K. research firm, Generator, expects Apple's music business to reach $15 billion in five years, doubling the size of the company.