APPLE INC., APPLE CORPS SING A CHORUS OF “THE TWO OF US”
Apple Inc. and The Beatles' Apple Corps have jointly announced that they have entered into a new agreement concerning the use of their common name and respective logos, which replaces the 1991 agreement between the two companies. Under this new agreement, Apple Inc. will own all of the trademarks related to "Apple" and will license certain of those trademarks back to Apple Corps for their continued use.
In addition, the ongoing trademark lawsuit between the companies will end, with each party bearing its own legal costs, and Apple Inc. will continue using its name and logos on iTunes. The terms of settlement were not revealed.
Said Apple CEO Steve Jobs of the settlement: "We love the Beatles, and it has been painful being at odds with them over these trademarks. It feels great to resolve this in a positive manner, and in a way that should remove the potential of further disagreements in the future."
Commented Apple Corps head Neil Aspinall: "It is great to put this dispute behind us and move on. The years ahead are going to be very exciting times for us. We wish Apple Inc. every success and look forward to many years of peaceful cooperation with them."
The settlement comes slightly too late for Jobs’ company to have blown it up on the world stage with another of Apple’s Super Bowl spots. God knows, yesterday’s Super Bowl could have used some drama.
