Bruce Willis In Battle Over iTunes Downloads

Action hero Bruce Willis is engaged in a real-life battle – as the diehard music fan fights to save his song collection.

The actor is taking Apple (NasdaqGS: AAPL - news) to court so he can leave the tunes he has downloaded onto his iPods to his daughters after his death.

He has reportedly spent thousands on the collection, which features music by bands like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin.

But under Apple's current terms and conditions, he cannot pass on the songs to Rumer, Scout and Tallulah because they are effectively borrowed under a licence and not owned outright.

It means the collection will become worthless when he dies.

Willis, 57, has reportedly asked his lawyers to investigate whether the music can be put into the ownership of a family trust.

Legal action to give downloaders more rights is already underway in several US states.

A win against technology giant Apple could benefit millions of people who have downloaded songs from iTunes.

Many do not realise they are downloading the songs under a licence agreement and the songs cannot be passed on to other people, even as an inheritance.

If technology giant Apple suspects the rules have been broken it can suspend users' accounts.

As well as Willis' three daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore, the star had a baby girl, Mabel, with wife Emma Hemming earlier this year.