The Epic Trademark Battle Between Apple Corps and Apple Computer
This is the story of one of the longest-running trademark
battles, fought between two giants – the legendary Beatles' company, Apple
Corps, and the tech giant, Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.). The conflict
centered around one thing: an apple.
The Origins of the
Companies
Before we dive into the lawsuit, let's understand the key
players.
Apple Corps was founded in 1968 by The Beatles, who wanted
better control over their business affairs. The company’s main asset was Apple
Records, which released some of the band’s most iconic albums like Abbey Road
and Let It Be. They registered a green apple logo in 1969, which became an
important part of their brand.
On the other side, Apple Computer (founded in 1976 by Steve
Jobs and Steve Wozniak) was a new tech company. Apple Computer became famous
for creating the Apple I computer and later, products like the iPhone and iPad.
The company’s logo initially featured an image of Isaac Newton under an apple
tree, but by 1977, it changed to the famous rainbow-colored apple with a bite
taken out.
Interestingly, both companies loved puns – Apple Corps’ name
was a play on the word “core” (like the core of an apple), and Apple Computer’s
logo with a bite was a nod to “byte,” a unit of digital information.
The First Lawsuit
In 1978, Apple Corps filed a lawsuit in London high court against Apple Computer,
accusing the tech company of trademark infringement. The problem was that both
companies were using the image of an apple as their logo. However, the two
companies were in very different industries: Apple Corps was in the music
business, while Apple Computer was focused on technology.
In 1981, the two companies reached a settlement. Apple
Computer agreed not to enter the music business, and Apple Corps agreed not to
get involved in computers. At the time, this seemed like a fair deal since
neither company had plans to cross into the other's field.
The Legal Battles Continue
In the years following the settlement, things seemed calm.
But then, Apple Computer started making computers that could produce sounds. In
1989, they introduced MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) technology,
which caught the attention of Apple Corps. The music company felt that Apple
Computer was violating their agreement and trying to enter the music business.
This led to another round of lawsuits and a new settlement in 1991.
However, in 2003, everything changed. Apple Computer
launched iTunes, a groundbreaking platform that allowed users to buy and
download music. The iTunes Music Store revolutionized the way people consumed
music and brought Apple Computer directly into the music industry. Apple Corps
saw this as a violation of their trademark agreement and filed another lawsuit.
The Final Settlement
After years of legal disputes, the two companies finally
reached a settlement in 2007. Under the terms of the agreement, Apple Inc.
(formerly Apple Computer) would own all the trademarks related to “Apple” and
license some of them back to Apple Corps so they could continue using them.
It’s reported that Apple Inc. paid around $500 million for the rights.
Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Inc., said after 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."
The Legacy
Today, both Apple Inc. and The Beatles remain iconic in
their respective industries. But this trademark battle is a reminder of how
important intellectual property can be, even for the biggest companies. The
fight over the apple logo lasted nearly 30 years, showing that even giants have
to protect their brand. In the end, both companies were able to “Come Together”
and find a way to share their legacy.
