Apple CEO Steve Jobs Ordered to Testify in iTunes Antitrust Case

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has been ordered by a federal judge to answer questions in an iTunes antitrust lawsuit, according to a Reuters report. Jobs will respond to allegations that Apple (AAPL) intentionally altered its software in a way that prevented competitor RealNetworks' music files from playing on iPods.

Federal Judge Howard Lloyd of the U.S. District Court for Northern California issued the order Monday that will allow plaintiffs attorneys to question Jobs for up to two hours, noting that Jobs "has unique, non-repetitive, first hand knowledge about Apple's software updates in October 2004 that rendered the RealNetworks' digital music files once again inoperable with iPods."

The legal wrangling comes at a time when Jobs is undergoing this third medical leave in the past seven years. Despite his illness, however, Jobs managed to make a surprise appearance at the unveiling of Apple's iPad 2 earlier this month, and also met with President Obama during his trip to Silicon Valley in February.