October 9, 1991: A court docket orders Apple to pay $26.5 million to Apple Corps, The Beatles’ document label and holding firm, for trademark infringement. The tip of this Beatles versus Apple lawsuit marks the second time Cupertino is compelled to pay the English rock band.
The ruling comes a decade after Apple swore it might by no means get into the music enterprise.
Apple vs. The Beatles: A protracted-running authorized battle
The Beatles began utilizing the title Apple Corps in 1968. In line with Derek Taylor, the band’s publicist, Beatles’ songwriter and bass participant Paul McCartney selected the title “Apple.”
McCartney thought it represented the group’s maturing enterprise technique.
“What’s the very first thing {that a} baby is taught when he begins to develop up?” McCartney reportedly mentioned. “A is for Apple.”
Apple (the pc firm) was included almost a decade later in 1977. On the time, it appeared like there was no danger the 2 corporations would cross over into one another’s mental area. Nonetheless, it didn’t take lengthy after the launch of the Apple II for Apple Corps to file a lawsuit defending its title.
The businesses settled the primary Apple versus The Beatles lawsuit in 1981, with Cupertino paying Apple Corps $80,000. The pc firm additionally agreed to by no means enter the music enterprise.
Macintosh and Apple II add MIDI and audio recording capabilities
Issues stayed like that till 1986, when Apple added MIDI and audio recording to the Macintosh and Apple II product traces. In February 1989, Apple Corps sued once more, claiming Cupertino violated the 1981 settlement. The music firm singled out the Mac Plus, Mac SE and Mac II, in addition to the Apple IIGS, AppleCD SC drive and Apple’s MIDI gadget.
The 2 sides finally settled on October 9, 1991. This time, amusingly, The Beatles’ legal professionals advised Apple ought to change its title to “Banana” or “Peach” to keep away from future dustups. Apple additionally signed an settlement stating that it may manufacture and promote gadgets that “reproduce, run, play or in any other case ship such content material” as long as this wasn’t on bodily media.
Apple vs. The Beatles: All’s properly that ends properly
In the end, hostilities between the 2 corporations continued till February 2007. Immediately, that animosity is a factor of the previous. Now you possibly can hearken to (or purchase) The Beatles’ music within the Apple Music app.
Do you keep in mind the authorized battles that pitted Apple versus The Beatles’ Apple Corps? Depart your feedback beneath.