Apple settles with Apple

Beatles label vs iPod maker

By John Oates • Get more from this author

Posted in Law, 5th February 2007 15:15 GMT

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Apple Inc, formerly known as Apple Computer, has settled its long running court action with the Beatles' record label Apple Corps. Apple, the computer maker, will now get all relevant logos and trademarks, but will license some back to Apple Corp - the music label.

The ongoing court battle over trademarks will end and each company will pay its own legal fees. Other details of the settlement are confidential.

Apple Corps manager Neil Aspinall said he looked forward to "many years of peaceful co-operation with them".

Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs said in his statement: "We love the Beatles, and it has been painful being at odds with them over these trademarks."

The latest round of court action between the two started in 2003 - previous agreements saw Apple Computer promise to stay out of the music market, but the launch of iTunes brought reignited hostilities. Apple Corp previously took action against the computer maker in the early 1980s and again in the late 1980s. ®

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