Apple and the Beatles Make Peace Over Their Logos

A record with an Apple Corps logo is seen placed on the top of an Apple computer with its logo, top left, in London in this March 29, 2006, file photo. IPod maker Apple and the guardian of The Beatles' music resolved their long-simmering dispute on Monday, Feb. 5, 2007, about who has the right to the Apple trademark. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, file) (Sang Tan - AP)

The maker of the iPod and the guardian of the Beatles' music resolved their long-simmering dispute yesterday over who has the right to the Apple trademark.

The settlement between Apple Inc. and Apple Corps, which holds the rights to the band's music, offered greater hope to fans that the two sides could now focus on permitting downloads of Beatles songs through the computer company's iTunes Store. The catalogue of Beatles songs is a holdout from iTunes and other online services.

The two Apples have been exchanging legal salvos for 20 years over their names and logos. The last skirmish came in May after a British judge ruled that iTunes did not violate a 1991 agreement stipulating that the computer maker could keep using its logo if it did not enter the music business. An appeal had been scheduled for this month.

The new settlement replaces that agreement and gives Apple Inc. ownership of all the trademarks related to Apple, meaning it can continue using its name and logos in iTunes. Apple Inc. would license some of those trademarks back to Apple Corps for its continued use.

Each side agreed to pay its own legal costs to end the trademark lawsuit. Further terms were not disclosed.

"We love the Beatles, and it has been painful being at odds with them over these trademarks," said Steve Jobs, Apple Inc.'s chief executive. "It feels great to resolve this in a positive manner and in a way that should remove the potential of further disagreements."

Neil Aspinall, manager of Apple Corps, said the company was glad to resolve the dispute.

"The years ahead are going to be very exciting times for us," he said. "We wish Apple Inc. every success and look forward to many years of peaceful cooperation with them."

The joint announcement did not mention the prospects of Beatles downloads. The Beatles have not allowed any online service to sell their music. The only Beatles songs for sale on iTunes are cover versions and tributes, and the only legal way of getting the band's tunes onto iPods is to buy a CD and make a digital copy from that.