More Details and Analysis of Apple v. Apple

lothar97 writes "MacNewsWorld is reporting details about the Apple (Beatles) v. Apple (Computer) case. It's most interesting concerning the confidential settlements the two parties have previously signed: 'one of those passages in the court document strongly implies that Apple Corps agreed to allow Apple (Computer) to pursue digital music initiatives, but not package, sell or distribute any physical music materials such as CDs.' This might be a cause of 'move on, nothing to see here,' and Apple Computer might be able to settle on the cheap. Trademark infringement might be minimal, and both sides would want to keep this from going much further."

Comments

Whether confidential or not, ...

[burgburgburg]

the physical differential aspect of the agreement had been suggested before. And last I checked, all iTunes is doing is sending me code. Nothing to hold here, so nothing to see here.

No big deal

[bfandreas]

I can't see how those two could possibly be confused. The ones company logo is a Macintosh that's been nibbled on and the other is that computer company.

...hang on...

Re:No big deal

[Yaztromo]

I can't see how those two could possibly be confused. The ones company logo is a Macintosh that's been nibbled on and the other is that computer company.

Actually, Apple Corps' logo is an all-green apple (Granny Smith) with no nibbles out of it, whereas Macintosh apples are green and red.

Let's look at the differences:

• A MacIntosh apple

And with that, I'm going to have another slice of fine MacIntosh apple pie my mother baked, with a scoop of ice cream on the side, while I listen to Abbey Road on my PowerBook G4. Now there's some Apple-on-Apple action.

Yaz.

Re:Physical?

[swissfondue]

You probably wouldn't be surprised to learn to what extent lawyers can change the laws of physics! Houdini was nothing compared to their act. If it looks like a hamburger and tastes like a hamburger, it is a hamburger. So Apple is selling a music product online. It is "made" i.e. formatted and stored, then delivered in one unit. Physical delivery is by internet. The medium is a data file. The only difference is that it is not delivered as a solid state medium. How much does this count for? I think Apple corps has a possible case, although I hope not!

On relative net worth and business plans

[GORDOOM]

I'm sure that this possibility has been raised ad infinitum on other stories, but I raise it again:

1. How much is the Apple Corps worth? Is it publicly-traded?
2. How much does Apple Computer have on hand that they could use in a corporate acquisition?

If I were in Steve's turtleneck, I would be looking into the possibility of buying out the Apple Corps entirely. If Apple really wanted to change the way things worked in the music industry, what better way than by having their own record label?

Re:On relative net worth and business plans

[MikeXpop]

Yeah. I mean, after all, how much could the record company that puts out THE BEATLES cost?