The Beatles give up "Apple" trademark in legal settlement
The Beatles' company Apple Corps' long-standing battle against Apple Computers, Inc., over the use of the Apple trademark, is officially over. In a joint statement the companies said that, "Apple Computers will own the name Apple, the apple logos and all related trademarks," and that the company would license some trademarks back to the Beatles' company.
Neil Aspinall, the Beatles' longtime right-hand man and Managing Director of Apple Corps, said the company was happy to put the battle behind them, explaining that, "The years ahead are going to be very exciting times for us. We wish Apple Inc. every success and look forward to many years of peaceful co-operation with them."
Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said that, "It feels great to resolve this in a positive manner and in a way that should remove the potential of further disagreements in the future. We love the Beatles, and it has been painful being at odds with them over these trademarks."
In typical fashion, Ringo Starr said he's "pleased to finally get this contre-temps behind us," and he added that he's looking forward to getting a "free iPhone in the mail."
Last year, the Beatles lost a lawsuit which claimed that the computer company's iPod and iTunes download service broke a 1991 agreement preventing the computer company from using its trademark for products "whose principal application is music." The new settlement ends the case.
The settlement which had been rumored to be all but a done deal over the past few weeks, leads the way for the Beatles' catalogue to finally be made available through Apple's iTunes download service. According to various sources, an exclusive deal between the Beatles and iTunes may happen once the long-rumored revamping of the Beatles catalogue is complete.
The Beatles' spokeswoman Elizabeth Freund said that both companies had nothing to say about a future Beatles-iTunes deal, explaining that "This deal has nothing to do with that. This is strictly a trademark agreement."
Some speculate that an online kick-off for the Beatles catalogue either on the street and/or through iTunes might center around the 40th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper on June 1st, although the Beatles' camp has been tight-lipped about online plans or future re-releases.
Gene Munster, senior research analyst with investment bank Piper Jaffray & Co, told businessweek.com that the settlement was inevitable: "It goes from impossible to a lock that it's going to happen -- it's a function of time at this point. I bet they move pretty fast. For Apple (Corps), it was critical that they got this taken care of." Munster estimated that Apple Inc. paid the Beatles $50 to $100 million for the ownership of the Apple name.
So far none of the Beatles' group or solo catalogues are available for legal downloading online, with the exception of a few albums by Starr and a handful of Beatles tracks on compilations.
Apple Corps is jointly owned by the surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, and the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison. The company formally owned the exclusive copyrights for "Apple Records," "Apple Music," "Apple Publishing," and "Apple Electronics."
Apple Corps began nearly 40 years ago, and was first mentioned on the back cover of their legendary 1967 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.
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Neil Aspinall, the Beatles' longtime right-hand man and Managing Director of Apple Corps, said the company was happy to put the battle behind them, explaining that, "The years ahead are going to be very exciting times for us. We wish Apple Inc. every success and look forward to many years of peaceful co-operation with them."
Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said that, "It feels great to resolve this in a positive manner and in a way that should remove the potential of further disagreements in the future. We love the Beatles, and it has been painful being at odds with them over these trademarks."
In typical fashion, Ringo Starr said he's "pleased to finally get this contre-temps behind us," and he added that he's looking forward to getting a "free iPhone in the mail."
Last year, the Beatles lost a lawsuit which claimed that the computer company's iPod and iTunes download service broke a 1991 agreement preventing the computer company from using its trademark for products "whose principal application is music." The new settlement ends the case.
The settlement which had been rumored to be all but a done deal over the past few weeks, leads the way for the Beatles' catalogue to finally be made available through Apple's iTunes download service. According to various sources, an exclusive deal between the Beatles and iTunes may happen once the long-rumored revamping of the Beatles catalogue is complete.
The Beatles' spokeswoman Elizabeth Freund said that both companies had nothing to say about a future Beatles-iTunes deal, explaining that "This deal has nothing to do with that. This is strictly a trademark agreement."
Some speculate that an online kick-off for the Beatles catalogue either on the street and/or through iTunes might center around the 40th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper on June 1st, although the Beatles' camp has been tight-lipped about online plans or future re-releases.
Gene Munster, senior research analyst with investment bank Piper Jaffray & Co, told businessweek.com that the settlement was inevitable: "It goes from impossible to a lock that it's going to happen -- it's a function of time at this point. I bet they move pretty fast. For Apple (Corps), it was critical that they got this taken care of." Munster estimated that Apple Inc. paid the Beatles $50 to $100 million for the ownership of the Apple name.
So far none of the Beatles' group or solo catalogues are available for legal downloading online, with the exception of a few albums by Starr and a handful of Beatles tracks on compilations.
Apple Corps is jointly owned by the surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, and the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison. The company formally owned the exclusive copyrights for "Apple Records," "Apple Music," "Apple Publishing," and "Apple Electronics."
Apple Corps began nearly 40 years ago, and was first mentioned on the back cover of their legendary 1967 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.
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