You may be eligible for a compensation payment under a recent settlement by Apple in a massive class action suit over iPod Nanos that scratched badly under normal use.

The iPod family, Nano far right.

The settlement, reached last October, is still awaiting court approval, which is expected to some this April. However, lawyers for the plaintiff group report that settlement advisory letters are already going out to a pool of Nano owners estimated to number several million.

Users who file a claim will be eligible to collect one of two types of payments. Payments of up to (US)$25 will be available to claimants who did not receive a free Nano slipcase when they purchased their unit. Payments of up to (US)$15 will be available to claimants who did receive a slipcase.

The total amount Apple has agreed to pay in compensation to unhappy Nano owners is (US)$22.5 million. If claims surpass that amount, individual payments may be reduced proportionally to ensure that all claimants are equally compensated.

For details and access to the claim form, visit the iPod Nano settlement Web site.