“As the unmistakable opening notes of the disco hit ‘Le Freak’ thumped through the High Court on Wednesday, it was clear that ‘Apple Corps Ltd vs. Apple Computer Inc’ was not going to be a typical trademark lawsuit,” Reuters reports. “Apple Corps Ltd — owned by Beatles Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono and the estate of George Harrison — accused Apple Computer of violating a 1991 agreement by using the Apple name and logo to sell music downloads through its market-leading iTunes Music Store. ‘Apple Computer can go into the recorded music business in any way they want. What they cannot do is use the Apple (trade)mark to do it,’ Apple Corps counsel Geoffrey Vos said in his opening statement.”
“In a high-tech courtroom strewn with computers, monitors, and at least one iPod, Vos demonstrated the iTunes software by downloading the song ‘Le Freak’ and playing it for Justice Edward Mann, a self-professed iPod owner,” Reuters reports. “Vos said the Apple Computer logo is ‘intimately associated with the process’ of buying a song from the iTunes Music Store. He also played a TV ad featuring the British band Coldplay, which prominently displayed the logo.”
“Apple Corps is seeking a judgement of liability and an injunction against Apple Computer. If it succeeds, a subsequent trial will assess damages,” Reuters reports. “Apple Computer counsel Anthony Grabiner was due to give his opening presentation, but it was pushed back until Thursday. Apple Corps Managing Director Neil Aspinall, a former Beatles road manager, and Eddie Cue, Apple Computer’s vice president for applications, are scheduled to testify at the trial, which is due to run through next week.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The Beatles and associated Beatles parasites (Yoko) sure do love that logo, don’t they?
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“i didnt even really know about apple (music) and have always thought the beatles are overated”
So you’re doubly ignorant.
Why is it that these Apple Corps/Apple Computer stories bring out the most ridiculous comments? The fact remains that this whole issue arises from Steve Jobs doing something stupid back in his twenties: he named his company after another company. Now its come back to bite Apple in the ass (for what–the third time?).
Aren’t the only people who even know WHO Apple Records is OLD???
I mean c’mon… I’m in my 40’s and I certainly don’t remember Apple Records/Corps or their logo for that matter…
and YES, I agree w/ the previous comment, the Beatles are definitely OVERATED!
The Stones aren’t stupid, they’re available on iTMS and happy to be there… Sir Paul & the ‘self righteous’ crowd can piss off IMHO…
Lets see now. Apple needs to buy Apple Corp. They need to buy Sony. They need to buy Adobe. While they’re at it, they should just go ahead and buy Disney. Oh, oh, what’s that other company sueing them over some QuickTime compression or something? Yep, they need to buy them too. Then there’s Creative and their iPod menu sofware claim. Might as well put them out of their misery and buy them out. Uh, don’t forget, there’s that Palm thing. Not sure about this one, but what the heck? Buy them!
Oh, yea!! I’m feelin’ it now. Yeeeeaa, baby. Am I’m forgetting anyone? Don’t be shy. There’s plenty to go around. C’mon. Speak up… come to daddy!
MW: “bill”… haa, haa. All this buying has run up one huge bill. That’s golden.
The Beatles were really great during their early years, but their later albums sucked eggs. Apple SHOULD buy Apple Corps, that way Apple can REALLY get into the music industry, not just sell music.
What I wonder is, what exactly has Apple Corps. lost because of iTunes Music Store ? From what I can see, nothing at all… They don´t compete at any level ? This seems like greed and that´s a shame.
I am listening to Wings / paul McCartneys “Let them in ” as I write this. I must admit that Macca is the best popmusic/writer ever ! But pleas stop his charade..
http://geirwerner.squarespace.com/
I still fail to see the connection.
“What I wonder is, what exactly has Apple Corps. lost because of iTunes Music Store ? From what I can see, nothing at all… “
I agree, surely you can only complain if a company steps on your toes and by competing you lose money. If Apple Corps are sitting back doing nothing but collection royalities what are they losing? Just greed IMHO.