Corps Calls Apple Rotten

Another lawsuit over the Apple name between the Beatles' Apple Corps business and Apple Computer focuses on the iTunes Music Store and millions of dollars. The Times Online commented on that strategy: Anyone with an iPod full of songs purchased on iTunes might think they've actually downloaded the equivalent of physical copies. But Apple's defense for a lawsuit brought by the first Apple -- the Beatles' music publisher/record label Beatles -- says all it provides is digital data transmission that doesn't contravene a 1991 settlement about selling music in physical form. The Beatles' Apple Corps claims that the younger company is breaching a 1991 agreement that it would not sell music using the Apple trademark. Apple Computer says the agreement allows the sale of online data transfers, which would include digital music downloads. As with all things Apple, the controversy has stirred up commentary from other quarters. The Unofficial Apple Weblog sees this legal battle ending in a predictable manner: While kind of fun to watch, this most recent case will probably be resolved in the same manner as all the other suits - with Apple Computer ponying up a pile of cash for Apple Corps. Tag: | document.write("Email Murdok here.") Add to document.write("Del.icio.us") | Yahoo! My Web Drag this to your Bookmarks. David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.