Apple Computer Loses First Round Against The Beatles

by , 5:15 PM EDT, April 6th, 2004

The court case between Apple Computer and The Beatles' record label, Apple Corps, will not be held in California, despite Apple Computer's requests, according to an article at Forbes. Apple Corps is suing Apple Computer for violating an agreement which stated that Apple Computer would only use the Apple trademark on computer products. Apple Corps claims that this agreement was violated when Apple Computer introduced the iTunes Music Store. From Forbes:

The California computer maker has been embroiled in a trademark dispute since September with the similarly named London-based Apple Corps., the company formed in 1968 to manage the band's business interests and act as its music label.

Apple Corps. took the computer maker to court, accusing Apple Computer of violating a 1991 agreement specifying that it could use the Apple trademark for computer products only.

[...]

A London High Court judge on Tuesday struck down Apple's request to have the case heard by California courts. The computer maker argued the U.S. was the proper place for the hearing as this was where the original agreement between the two companies was struck.

You can read the full article at Forbes' Web site.

The Mac Observer Spin:

As our title says, this is but round one. It is doubtful that Apple actually thought it could get the case moved to the US, and is even more doubtful that doing so was a crucial aspect of the company's legal defense. Still, a venue change would likely benefit Apple in some ways, just as keeping the case in the UK will benefit The Beatles. Home turf is always an advantage.

Forbes