Beatles Pipped Over Apple Logo ; Appeal Decision Paves Way for Back Catalogue to Be Available for Do

Feb 05, 06:32 PM

Current Headlines: By ALEXA BARACAIA

THE Beatles' record company Apple Corps today gave signalled defeat in its long-running dispute with computer giant Apple, and agreed to a deal that gives the iPod maker control of the name.

It paves the way for the band's back catalogue to be made available for download - probably on iTunes exclusively - for the first time.

Under the terms of the deal, the computer giant will take full control of the Apple brand but will licence certain trademarks back to the music company for continued use.

"We love the Beatles, and it has been painful being at odds with them over these trademarks," said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs.

It ends a legal row dating back more than 25 years. Initially, a deal between the two firms had been set up to ensure their brands would not clash.

But when the computer firm launched its iPod and iTunes download service , Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the families of George Harrison and John Lennon - who together control Apple Corps - went to court in a bid to stop the name and logo being used in association with the online music store.

However last May the High Court rejected Apple Corps' case, ruling the name was being used in connection with a shop, not with music, so did not breach the deal.

Apple Corps started an appeal, but has now settled out of court, putting an end to the row. Apple Corps manager Neil Aspinall said: "It is great to put this dispute behind us and move on."

Details of the agreement have not been disclosed but it is believed the computer company may have agreed to foot some of its rival's estimated Pounds 2 million court costs, possibly in return for an exclusive iTunes download agreement.

In a hint last month that relations may have thawed, Mr Jobs flicked through Beatles album covers on the new iPhone as he launched it, even playing their hit Lovely Rita.

During the legal wrangle, The Beatles have refused to licence use of their tracks for download.

Industry experts predict that, should they do so now, the songs could prove so popular that they would make up the entire chart top 10.

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