The Beatles Lose

The Beatles lost their “Apple v. Apple” lawsuit against Apple Computer (AAPL). The computer company is legally allowed to use its apple logo on its iTunes music store (heck, even the judge admitted that he owned an iPod).

Apple Corps, which claimed that the computer company had broken a 1991 agreement in which each side agreed not to enter into the other’s field of business, said it would appeal. (BA! Appeal, apple…get it?).
Judge Edward Mann of Britain’s High Court ruled that Apple Computer used the fruit logo in association with the store, not the music, and thus did not breach the agreement.
“I conclude that the use of the apple logo…does not suggest a relevant connection with the creative work,” Mann said in his written judgment. “I think that the use of the apple logo is a fair and reasonable use of the mark in connection with the service, which does not go further and unfairly or unreasonably suggest an additional association with the creative works themselves.”

Posted by on May 8th, 2006 at 9:19 am


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