We all have witness the battle over access to iTunes between Palm and Apple. Now Palm is taking this little war to a new battleground. Is good to see Palm tackling Apple head-on like this. Not only does this give Palm some good press, but it also reveals the monopolistic nature that the new Apple has developed.

Palm has filed a complaint with the USB Implementers Forum – an industry group established by technology companies that developed the technology that links computers to other electronic devices – claiming Apple is restraining trade. Palm says that Apple – which allows only its own devices to connect directly with iTunes software – is misusing the standards put in place to foster interoperability between computers and devices using a USB connection.

According to Mike Abramsky, an analyst with the investment firm RBC Capital Markets, Palm “is breaking new ground. Predicting the outcome of this particular filing is tricky. There isn’t much precedent for this case.” He also said; “In my mind, ultimately, the users are the arbiters in the outcome of these situations.”

Palm is not the only company clashing with Apple over its hardware and software policies. Google and Apple are tussling over Apple’s refusal to allow certain Google applications on the iPhone.

Michael Gartenberg, vice president for strategy and analysis at Interpret – a market research firm based in Los Angeles and New York – said; “This is a classic technology cat-and-mouse game. It often comes down to which side tires first.”

[Via The New York Times]