Apple Inc is attempting to finalise ownership of the Granny Smith logos it won from Apple Corps, The Beatles’ record label, in a legal settlement in 2007.
Patently Apple reports that Apple Inc has filed for two trademark applications with the European Trademarks Office “under 14 International Classifications covering such matters as computer hardware, online social networking services, mobile phones, musical instruments, games, clothing/headgear, advertising, education and broadcasting”.
The two logos – one featuring a side-on shot of a Granny Smith apple and the other a cross-section of a Granny Smith apple – are already owned by Apple Inc under the terms of the 2007 deal, though their continued use by Apple Corps is licensed by Apple Inc.
The two companies had been two court on two occasions before, in 1981 and 1991, over use of the logos with Apple Corps successfully proving Apple Inc had infringed its trademarks on both occasions. The exact terms of the 2007 settlement were never revealed.
In November 2010 The Beatles‘ music finally made its debut on iTunes after a long-running wrangle between EMI and Apple Inc.
According to reports, the licensing deal that brought The Beatles to iTunes is somewhat unique, with direct payments being made from iTunes download sales to Apple Corps rather than going through EMI.