Apple vs. Apple: The Verdict

A while back, I made note of the interesting court cased called Apple vs. Apple--as in the computer company vs. the Beatles' old record label. The case had to do with the rights to use an apple-shaped logo, specifically on the computer company's iTunes Music Store. And now, the verdict is in, and, as you might guess, Apple won.

Which Apple, you ask? Well, the maker of the iPod, of course. Here's an excerpt of the story:

Apple Corps, the guardian of the Beatles' commercial interests, contended that the U.S. company's use of the logo on its popular online music store had broken a 1991 agreement in which each side agreed not to enter into the other's field of business.

But High Court Judge Anthony Mann disagreed, saying that the computer company's logo is used in association with the store - not the music - and so did not breach the agreement.

"I conclude that the use of the apple logo ... does not suggest a relevant connection with the creative work," Mann said in his written judgment. "I think that the use of the apple logo is a fair and reasonable use of the mark in connection with the service, which does not go further and unfairly or unreasonably suggest an additional association with the creative works themselves."

Apple Corps is planning on appealing, so, while this case may be taking the long and winding road, I'm hoping that things will get back to normal pretty soon. It would be better, in my opinion, if Apple Corps would just let it be.

Patent court, part 2: In other news, the Seattle Seahawks and Texas A&M (my sister's alma mater) have reached an agreement over the rights to the phrase "the 12th man," which is a longtime Aggie tradition and a less-recent Seahawks one. The NFL team can use the phrase, but only in marketing geared to the immediate four-state area surrounding it.