The High Court in London has ruled that Apple Computer is not liable for trademark infringement against Apple Corps, the music company owned by The Beatles.
Apple Corps, owned by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono and the estate of George Harrison, argued that the computer company had violated a 1991 trademark agreement by moving into the music business through its iTunes online store.
Apple Computer argued in court hearings in London earlier this year that iTunes was primarily a data transmission service, permitted by the agreement.
The 1991 out-of-court settlement, which included a $26m payment by Apple Computer, had set out areas in which each party would have exclusive use of their respective fruit-shaped logos.
