Beatles and Apple Computer await court decision

LONDON (Reuters) - Judgment is due on Monday in a High Court battle
between the Beatles' record company Apple Corps and Apple Computer Inc..

Cazzawaw owns the redemption!...

And judgement went against Apple Corps.

"Mr Justice Edward Mann ruled that the computer company used the Apple
logo in association with its store, not the music, and so was not in
breach.

The ruling means iPods and iTunes will still be able to carry the Apple
name and logo.

The Beatles' label, which wanted London's High Court to award damages
and stop its rival using the Apple logo in its music operations, will
appeal.

Mr Justice Mann ruled iTunes was "a form of electronic shop" and not
involved in creating music."

Guy Bannis...

... because Apple (the computer company) doesn't hold the rights to the
music.

The music firm says the computer company has violated a 1991 trademark
agreement by moving into the music business through its market-leading
iTunes online store.

Apple Computer argued in court hearings in London earlier this year that
iTunes was primarily a data transmission service, permitted by the
agreement.

Apple Corps counsel Geoffrey Vos argued that Apple Computer could go
"into the recorded music business in any way they want".

"What they cannot do is use the Apple (trade)mark to do it," he said.

Apple Corps, owned by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon's widow
Yoko Ono and the estate of George Harrison, has sued Apple Computer
twice before.

The 1991 out-of-court settlement, which included a $26 million payment
by Apple Computer, set out areas in which each party would have

FragileWarrior...

Gee, is that all? Wacko pays that much chump change to little boys so
they'll shut up...

exclusive use of their respective fruit-shaped logos.

Apple Corps is seeking a judgment of liability and an injunction against
Apple Computer. If it succeeds, a subsequent trial will assess damages.

Apple Computer has become a major force in the music industry, selling
some 14 million iPod portable music players and more than one billion
songs from the iTunes Music Store.

The Beatles have consistently refused to license their songs to any
online music services.

But it emerged during the High Court proceedings that Apple Corps was
digitally remastering the entire Beatles catalog, paving the way for
selling the songs online.

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Presumably when MJ will derive the least amount of money possible...