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Beatles, EMI settle royalty dispute

updated 09:05 am EDT, Thu April 12, 2007

Beatles settle with EMI

Music fans may soon finally be able to digitally purchase songs from The Beatles. Apple Corps, the company representing the pop band, has settled a $59 million royalty dispute with EMI Group. Heralded as the last hurdle before digital distribution of the Liverpoool's band music, the royalty settlement comes on the heels of a revolutionary DRM-free music distribution agreement by EMI and this week's announcement of the departure of a key Apple Corps executive.

Apple Corps, which settled with settled with Cupertino-based Apple earlier this year over the use of the Apple brand name, is owned by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison. Apple Corps had threatened to sue EMI in December 2005 after negotiations broke down over royalty payments from its music contract, the report said.

"We have settled on mutually acceptable terms and there will be no further comment," a spokeswoman for EMI told Reuters. A spokeswoman for Apple Corps said the deal had been agreed last month but would not give any further details.

The report notes that Apple and EMI previously fought a separate, decade-long courtroom battle over royalties and other issues which was resolved out of court in 1989.

 
Previous Comments

Who cares?

04/12, 09:54am reply

It's interesting how a band that doesn't produce a damn thing keeps earning money by suing anyone and everyone just to make a profit. I don't care if they ever make it to iTunes. I've never liked them.

appleisgreat

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Joined: Feb 2006

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Re: who cares?

04/12, 10:19am reply

He who forgets the back catalog is doomed to repeat it! For instance, did you know Paul McCartney used to be in a band? They were called "Wings".

The Beatles may not be "of the moment" but when they arrive on the iTunes Store you can expect them to show up on the bestsellers list.

Ben Lawson

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Joined: Jul 2002

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Aspinall?

04/12, 11:53am reply

I wonder if this has anything to do with Neil Aspinall's sudden resignation from Apple Corps?

climacs

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Joined: Sep 2001

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Yep

04/12, 01:14pm reply

> I wonder if this has anything to do with > Neil Aspinall's sudden resignation from > Apple Corps?

You would be correct.

ZinkDifferent

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Joined: Jan 2005

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