A group of Chinese writers have filed a claim against Apple, alleging that the company's App Store sells unlicensed copies of their books and seeking 50 million yuan (7.9 million U.S. dollars) in compensation. The claim, filed on behalf of 22 famous writers, involves 95 books that have allegedly been sold as pirated copies on Apple's App Store.

The writers have teamed up and set up a writers' rights alliance. The alliance has already sent a lawyer's letter to Apple and is waiting for the company's reply, said Bei Zhicheng, head of the alliance. The group also claimed that when the Californian company was notified about the pirated content, it was too slow to remove the products.

The National Copyright Administration confirmed that the App Store is suspected of piracy and copyright infringement, but it has to consult with other "relevant departments" to make a judgment.