Apple Wins Lawsuit Versus Beatles' Label
How appropriate that an old-school music label loses a lawsuit versus a new-age technology company in a trademark battle. It appears you can teach an old dog new tricks after all.
If you haven't been paying attention - and I can't say I blame you - Apple Corps. Ltd., the label that maintains the Beatles' commercial interests, sued Apple Computer Inc.
The complaint?
Apple Corps. claims Apple Computer violated a 1991 agreement not to enter one another's industries. Of course, Apple Computer's been using the Apple name and logo for 30 years. The technology company's original use of the trademark caused some hard feelings, but the two companies came to terms with the '91 agreement.
But then Apple launched iTunes and revolutionized the way music is delivered and consumed (dispute that all you want, but iPod sales have driven Apple's stock to an all-time high and the company's sold more than a billion - that's billion with a B - iTunes songs). That's what's really agitating Apple Corps.
So, they sued. And lost.
Instead of fighting the current and continually swimming upstream, music publishers should embrace the digital age and place electronic distribution of music at the forefront of their business models. Apple Corps. could take a wonderful step in that direction by making the Beatles' library of music available through iTunes. But it appears the company's still stuck in the seventies.
I, for one, am thankful Apple Computer isn't.
If you haven't been paying attention - and I can't say I blame you - Apple Corps. Ltd., the label that maintains the Beatles' commercial interests, sued Apple Computer Inc.
The complaint?
Apple Corps. claims Apple Computer violated a 1991 agreement not to enter one another's industries. Of course, Apple Computer's been using the Apple name and logo for 30 years. The technology company's original use of the trademark caused some hard feelings, but the two companies came to terms with the '91 agreement.
But then Apple launched iTunes and revolutionized the way music is delivered and consumed (dispute that all you want, but iPod sales have driven Apple's stock to an all-time high and the company's sold more than a billion - that's billion with a B - iTunes songs). That's what's really agitating Apple Corps.
So, they sued. And lost.
Instead of fighting the current and continually swimming upstream, music publishers should embrace the digital age and place electronic distribution of music at the forefront of their business models. Apple Corps. could take a wonderful step in that direction by making the Beatles' library of music available through iTunes. But it appears the company's still stuck in the seventies.
I, for one, am thankful Apple Computer isn't.
posted by Erik Eckel at 9:48 AM
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