Monday, May 8,2006 @ 7:25am
Apple wins logo lawsuit against Beatles
Apple Computer has won the right to use the Apple logo and brand in conjuncion with iTunes. The Cupertino-based company prevailed in a lawsuit against a suit filed by Apple Corps, the Beatles' music company. Apple Corps had alleged that Apple Computer had broke a 1991 agreement by using the Apple logo and brand in association with its popular music-related products, the iPod and iTunes, according to Macworld UK: "The British company, still owned by former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with the widow of John Lennon and the estate of George Harrison, wanted to win an injunction to prevent Apple Computer using the Apple logo in connection with its iPod and iTunes products. The judge didn't agree. Mann this morning said that the association between the logo use and the download service is a "proper one", and that the logo was clearly used in relation to the service, not to the music." Apple Corps said it would appeal the decision, while Apple CEO Steve Jobs said he hopes to work something out rather than continue the battle.
"We are glad to put this disagreement behind us," Jobs said. "We have always loved the Beatles, and hopefully we can now work together to get them on the iTunes Music Store," Jobs said.