Palm and Apple have been fighting over iTunes Sync feature on Palm Pre. Palm has been advertising Pre as compatible with iTunes even though they had no legal permission from Apple. Palm complained to USB Forum that Apple is improperly using its USB Vendor ID to block sync with iTunes. Palm also said that it is using Apple’s Vendor ID to make its device sync with iTunes.

USB Forum’s executive director, Traci Donnell today said, “In the view of USB-IF, Palm’s allegation (if true) does not establish that Apple is using its Vendor ID contrary to USB-IF’s policies. Therefore, under present USB-IF policies, the USB-IF does not consider the alleged use, without more, to be ‘improper’”.

About Palm’s use of Apple’s Vendor ID for syncing with iTunes Donnell said, “Under the policy, Palm may only use the single Vendor ID issued to Palm. Usage of any other company’s Vendor ID is specifically precluded. Palm’s expressed intent to use Apple’s Vendor ID appears to violate the attached policy.”

USB Forum has also asked Palm to respond to this violation and clarify its intent within seven days. This puts Palm in very bad situation. And like we wrote back in July, Palm should have developed media syncing software for Pre rather than hacking Apple’s iTunes to work with Pre.