[link|http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/05/06/apple_vs_apple_trial_date/|The Reg].

Apple and Apple have been here before, with Corp. suing Comp. a number of times over the last 20 years as it has perceived the Mac maker trading on its trademark toes. Those cases ended with Comp. settling out of court, paying Corp. huge sums, and agreeing not to enter the music market again. But with the iTunes Music Store, Apple Comp. has gone too far, Corp. alleges, and is suing for damages.

This has been coming for a *long* time - probably since before the "[link|http://www.boingboing.net/2005/03/24/early_apple_sound_de.html|sosumi]" days. I wonder if Apple will buy Apple before the trial to make the problem go away. That would seem to be the most logical solution.

Cheers,
Scott.

Yeah, Jackson bought the copyrights to the Lennon and McCartney songs in [link|http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:Iykgsd4mCZ8J:www.newsday.com/entertainment/la-fi-beatles16apr16,0,1581071.story%3Fcoll%3Dny-entertainment-headlines+Sony/ATV+beatles&hl=en|1985]. They're half-owned by Sony now.

The dispute with Apple Corps. (records) is over [link|http://www.beatlesnews.com/news_2004.htm#apple|trademarks]. (That site also lists legal troubles between Jackson/Sony and Harrison's estate.)

It could be a big deal if Apple (Mac) loses to Apple (Records) as presumably they could be forced to change their name.

As for what Apple (records) owns these days, I don't think it's very much. I think the record company had pretty much shriveled by the time the Beatles broke up in 1970. I recall in Lennon's Playboy interview that he talked about Apple being little more than a filing cabinet somewhere. But I'm no expert.

FWIW.

Cheers,
Scott.