Apple, Beatles label strike deal over name conflict

By Caroline McCarthy
Staff Writer, CNET News.com Published: February 5, 2007 6:22 AM PST Last modified: February 5, 2007 10:14 AM PST

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update Apple Inc. has reached an agreement with Apple Corps Ltd., the record label started by The Beatles in 1968, concerning the use of the name "Apple" and related logos.

Under the terms of the agreement announced Monday, Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple Inc. (formerly Apple Computer) will own all trademarks and logos related to the name "Apple" and will license them accordingly to the Apple Corps Ltd. music company.

This marks an end to the long-running trademark feud between the two similarly named companies. Additionally, it replaces a pre-existing agreement, signed in 1991, which forbade Apple Inc. from distributing music through physical media like CDs and cassette tapes--an agreement that, needless to say, predated the advent of the digital music market. Apple Inc. has stated that both companies will bear their existing legal costs.

In a statement, Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs said that "we love The Beatles, and it has been painful being at odds with them over these trademarks." Jobs added 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."

There is no word yet on whether this deal will eventually lead to the sale of The Beatles' music catalog in Apple Inc.'s iTunes Store, as the songs of the Fab Four are still not available for legal digital download.

Apple Inc. declined to comment on the matter.

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 53 comments (Page 1 of 2)

apple fan
by darix2005 February 5, 2007 7:02 AM PST: interesting ---- http://privacy.emigrantas.com - all about web privacy; Reply to this comment

Who really cares....
by d970813 February 5, 2007 7:21 AM PST: ... as long as Apple promotes their retarded DRM, I will not buy any of their tunes. Ah... I alomost forgot: long live www.allofmp3.com! I will gladly pay for a song/album that is prices right and that I can easily move to my computer or my Archos Gmini or to any other player I want. Hear this record labels?; Reply to this comment

Who really cares....
by d970813 February 5, 2007 7:21 AM PST: ... as long as Apple promotes their retarded DRM, I will not buy any of their tunes. Ah... I alomost forgot: long live www.allofmp3.com! I will gladly pay for a song/album that is prices right and that I can easily move to my computer or my Archos Gmini or to any other player I want. Hear this record labels?; Reply to this comment View all 2 replies
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Doesn't mention moneys
by djcaseley February 5, 2007 7:32 AM PST: Surely Apple Corps aren't just handing it all over?; Reply to this comment View reply
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Beatles on iTunes is next
by CBSTV February 5, 2007 7:49 AM PST: I think it's pretty much a forgone conclusion that iTunes will be the first place where the Beatles library will be available for (legal) download. Apple will probably introduce a special-edition Beatles iPod to commemorate the occasion.; Reply to this comment View all 2 replies
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Tick tick - story does not compute
by LemonFizzer February 5, 2007 7:55 AM PST: This story would make perfect sense if it said the following: Apple Inc. (formerly Apple Computer) will own all trademarks and logos related to the name "Apple" and will license them accordingly FROM the Apple Corps Ltd. music company. Apple Inc. could not be immediately reached for comment. should read Apple Corps. could not be....... Am I right or am I right?; Reply to this comment View reply
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My guess would be...
by Understarsidream February 5, 2007 8:15 AM PST: That Apple the computer company gave a load of cash to Apple Corps for ALL rights with an agreement to license them back. Apple Corps lost in court recently so that would be in their best interest (unless I'm remembering incorrectly).; Reply to this comment View all 2 replies
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Fixing a Hole
by tonybove February 5, 2007 9:18 AM PST: We can only speculate how much influence, if any, Apple Records had on the formation of Apple Computer, we know that Steve Jobs likes the Beatles. But there are far more interesting connections and coincidences. Start with the fact that Apple Records included an Apple Electronics division -- way back in 1968 (other divisions included Apple Films, Apple Publishing, and Apple Retail). A friend of John Lennon called Magic Alex (alias Yanni Alexis Mardas) worked on all sorts of electronic devices for this division; not just audio recording equipment (some of which found its way into Apple Records' basement recording studio and was used for some of the Let It Be album), but also light boxes and prototype consumer devices including an apple- shaped radio. He had impressed Lennon with his "nothing box", a small plastic box with randomly blinking lights, and his ideas for futuristic electronic devices. It turned out that his main electronic experience had been as a TV repairman. But Lennon and McCartney were serious about starting an alternative music, film, publishing, and electronics company. In addition to providing an umbrella to cover their financial and business affairs, Lennon and McCartney intended Apple to be an innovative company that would capitalize on worthwhile artistic projects. Above all, Apple epitomized the style of its era, as each new Beatles album broke new ground in music and cover art. McCartney came up with the name Apple Corps and the logo from a René Magritte painting. The following dialog from the 1968 press conference in New York to announce Apple Corps is particularly illuminating: Interviewer to the Beatles: Could you tell us about your newest corporate business venture [Apple]? John Lennon: It's a business concerning records, films, and electronics and, as a sideline, manufacturing or whatever. We want to set up a system whereby people who just want to make a film about anything don't have to go on their knees in somebody's office, probably yours. [ Interviewer asks more questions ] John Lennon: The aim of this company [Apple] isn't really a sack of gold teeth in the bank. We've done that bit. It's more of a trick to see if we can actually get artistic freedom within a business structure, to see if we can create nice things and sell them without charging three times our cost. Interviewer to the Beatles: How will you run your new company? John Lennon: There's people we can get to do that. We don't know anything about business. Interviewer to the Beatles: Will you sing a song for us? John Lennon: No. Sorry, we need money first. See "Apple and Apple Give Peace a Chance" -- Tony Bove's iTimes (http://www.tonybove.com/blog/); Reply to this comment

Last chance to make some bucks?
by rcrusoe February 5, 2007 10:08 AM PST: I'd say yes, you will be able to buy Beatles music on iTunes very soon. As I recall, their copyright is running out in the UK, and without an extension their recordings will enter the public domain where it can be freely copied, etc. (in the UK) So why not sign a deal with the largest online music distributer in the world while you can? Once their music can be hosted legally anywhere in the world, regardless of copyrights they may have in other countries, sales will disappear.; Reply to this comment

Once Again, the Apple Terrorist Prevails
by iZune February 5, 2007 6:24 PM PST: Did you ever notice those new Apple ads where some "cool kid" bullies the nerds? Apple is a bully and terrorist organization.; Reply to this comment View all 3 replies
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