Apple vs. Apple!

conjur

No Lifer
Jun 7, 2001
58,686
3
0
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.
 

Schadenfroh

Elite Member
Mar 8, 2003
38,416
4
0
rolleye.gif
i hate lawyers
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
Well, I like the Beatles, but not Jobes' Apple, so I guess I'll be rooting for the Beatles. It's a pain to get stuff patented, so you hope it actually means something after you jump through all the hoops.
 

numark

Golden Member
Sep 17, 2002
1,005
0
0
Originally posted by: Ornery
Well, I like the Beatles, but not Jobes' Apple, so I guess I'll be rooting for the Beatles. It's a pain to get stuff patented, so you hope it actually means something after you jump through all the hoops.
You patent inventions, you trademark names and logos.
 

notfred

Lifer
Feb 12, 2001
38,241
4
0
Boo to the Beatles. Bunch of BS, like anyone is really confusing them with Apple computer. Since this lawsuit was filed in the UK, does the outcome only apply to the UK?
 

PatboyX

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2001
7,024
0
0
i always heard there was an old agreement between the two companies. as long as the computers never had sound, apple records wouldnt care.
that was why one of apples first sounds was that "sosumi" noise.

of course, that could be bs urban legend.
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
Originally posted by: notfred
Boo to the Beatles. Bunch of BS, like anyone is really confusing them with Apple computer. Since this lawsuit was filed in the UK, does the outcome only apply to the UK?

I would guess not, as the agreement was with Apple, so it would most probably mean Apple are out of the music business totally, not in any specific area/country.
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
15,200
10
81
God


God is a concept,
By which we can measure,
Our pain,
I'll say it again,
God is a concept,
By which we can measure,
Our pain,
I don't believe in magic,
I don't believe in I-ching,
I don't believe in bible,
I don't believe in tarot,
I don't believe in Hitler,
I don't believe in Jesus,
I don't believe in Kennedy,
I don't believe in Buddha,
I don't believe in mantra,
I don't believe in Gita,
I don't believe in yoga,
I don't believe in kings,
I don't believe in Elvis,
I don't believe in Zimmerman,
I don't believe in Beatles,
I just believe in me,
Yoko and me,
And that's reality.
The dream is over,
What can I say?
The dream is over,
Yesterday,
I was dreamweaver,
But now I'm reborn,
I was the walrus,
But now I'm John,
And so dear friends,
You just have to carry on,
The dream is over.
 

AlienCraft

Lifer
Nov 23, 2002
10,539
0
0
Apple Computers has already lost a similar case years ago and have been paying Apple Records millions.
They will be paying millions more to Apple Records this time as well, simply in penalties attached to the original lawsuit, nevermind the suit mentioned here.