Apple Bites Beatles

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The Beatles may be England’s most famous brand, but that doesn’t mean Apple Computer must concede its own, similarly famous moniker.
A British judge today ruled that Apple Computer’s use of its fruit logo to promote its iTunes brand did not violate a 1991 agreement with Apple Corps Ltd., which oversees the famous band’s commercial interests (link here). (Apple Corps. is owned by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and the estate of George Harrison.)

Under the 1991 deal, Apple Computer paid Apple Corp. $26.5 million for certain rights to the logo.

iTunes has sold more than 1 billion songs, but none of them Beatles tunes.

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About Mike

Mike Buetow is president of the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (pcea.net). He previously was editor-in-chief of Circuits Assembly magazine, the leading publication for electronics manufacturing, and PCD&F, the leading publication for printed circuit design and fabrication. He spent 21 years as vice president and editorial director of UP Media Group, for which he oversaw all editorial and production aspects. He has more than 30 years' experience in the electronics industry, including six years at IPC, an electronics trade association, at which he was a technical projects manager and communications director. He has also held editorial positions at SMT Magazine, community newspapers and in book publishing. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois. Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikebuetow