BEIJING, Oct. 25 -- Apple Computer faces a lawsuit that alleges the company knew the iPod nano was defective, yet decided to press on with the product release last month.

    Disgruntled Consumers have filed a proposed class action lawsuit in San Jose, California, claiming that the nano scratches "excessively during normal usage".

    The suit blames nano's defectiveness on the thin film of plastic resin covering it, saying earlier versions of the iPod were coated with thicker and stronger resin.

    "Rather than admit the design flaw when consumers began to express widespread complaints ... Apple concealed the defect and advised class members that they would need to purchase additional equipment to prevent the screen from scratching excessively," according to the complaint.

    In late September, Apple had admitted that some iPod nano screens cracked too easily, but the company blamed the defect on a particular batch from a specific vendor that, according to the company, affected less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the Nanos that had been sold at that point.

    A spokesperson for Apple could not be reached for comment on the lawsuit. Enditem

(Agencies)