Apple Vs Apple 2007: Agreement Reached

Leslie Cheung over 18 years ago

The computer giant Apple Inc has finally settled its long-running trademark dispute with The Beatles' company, Apple Corps Ltd as reported on February 5.

The two companies agreed that Apple Inc would own all the trademarks related to "Apple", and would license certain trademarks back to The Beatles' Apple Corps for continued use.

"We love the Beatles, and it has been painful being at odds with them over these trademarks," Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said in a statement.

Neil Aspinall, manager of Apple Corps, said it was great to put the dispute behind them and move on.

A spokeswoman for EMI, the band's record label, declined to comment on whether there were any immediate plans for the Beatles' music to be sold online.

The long-running dispute centred around a 1991 trademark agreement between the two sides regarding the use of their respective apple-shaped logos. The music firm had said that the computer company had violated the agreement by moving into the music business through its hugely popular iTunes online store which has sold over a billion downloads.

In May 2006, a High Court judge in London sided with Apple Inc, which said iTunes was a data transmission service. Apple Corps - which is owned by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono and the estate of George Harrison - had said it would appeal.

But an agreement has now been reached. The trademark lawsuit between the two companies has now ended, with each party bearing its own legal costs.

News source from 6Music Music News.