article
Beatles? lawsuit a battle of sour Apples
The Associated Press
September 13, 2003
LONDON ? The Beatles? record company Apple Corps Ltd. has sued Apple Computer Inc., claiming the computer maker?s iTunes products violate a 1991 agreement that the Beatles said meant the Silicon Valley computer maker would stay out of the music business.
The 1991 deal dealt with the future use of the name ?Apple? and of both companies? well-known logos.
Apple Corps is owned by Sir Paul McCartney; Ringo Starr; John Lennon?s widow, Yoko Ono; and the estate of George Harrison.
They sued on July 4, about a month after Apple Computer launched its iTunes Music Store, a music downloading service.
The Beatles? suit, filed in the High Court in London, seeks an injunction to enforce the terms of the 1991 deal, and monetary damages for the alleged contract breach.
The stakes could sizeable: Apple?s iTunes Music Store has sold more than 10 million songs at 99 cents each since its April 28 launch, and the program is a large part of Apple?s strategy to promote its computers as the center of a digital lifestyle.
Beatles? lawsuit a battle of sour Apples
The Associated Press
September 13, 2003
LONDON ? The Beatles? record company Apple Corps Ltd. has sued Apple Computer Inc., claiming the computer maker?s iTunes products violate a 1991 agreement that the Beatles said meant the Silicon Valley computer maker would stay out of the music business.
The 1991 deal dealt with the future use of the name ?Apple? and of both companies? well-known logos.
Apple Corps is owned by Sir Paul McCartney; Ringo Starr; John Lennon?s widow, Yoko Ono; and the estate of George Harrison.
They sued on July 4, about a month after Apple Computer launched its iTunes Music Store, a music downloading service.
The Beatles? suit, filed in the High Court in London, seeks an injunction to enforce the terms of the 1991 deal, and monetary damages for the alleged contract breach.
The stakes could sizeable: Apple?s iTunes Music Store has sold more than 10 million songs at 99 cents each since its April 28 launch, and the program is a large part of Apple?s strategy to promote its computers as the center of a digital lifestyle.