Eminem's music publisher has filed a lawsuit against Apple claiming it never granted the company's iTunes store the right to sell the rapper's 93 songs.

Lawyers for Eight Mile Style LLC believe Apple wrongfully acquired $2.5million from iTunes downloads, which included a large sum for Eminem's hit 'Lose Yourself'.

According to the Associated Press news agency, the publisher has also started legal action against Aftermath Records, which owns the rights to the songs.

They claim the record label did not have permission to make the tracks available as digital downloads and that they retain the copyright ownership of the recordings.

Apple has denied Eight Mile's allegations and insisted that it has an existing agreement with Aftermath.

Unless a settlement is reached by Wednesday, a non-jury trial is scheduled to begin in Detroit on Thursday.

(by Jason Gregory)