A Melbourne computer company says Apple is "trying to burn us out" with legal fees in the latest David and Goliath battle over the iPod maker's trademarks.

Peter McRae, managing director of Macpro Computers in Collingwood, has provided "Macpro"-branded computers and technical support to businesses for 26 years but has been jumping through legal hoops ever since Apple was preparing to launch its Mac Pro line of computers about 3 and a half years ago.

Macpro Computers managing director Peter McRae.

In an oversight he now seriously regrets, McRae did not officially register the Macpro trademark.

"Apple came along with the Mac Pro and before it was launched they heard about us because we applied to be an [Apple] reseller. As soon as they saw "Macpro" pop up as an applicant, it alerted them to the fact that there was a Macpro here," McRae said in a phone interview.