Legal battling continues to rage in the UK courts between the two Apples, Apple Corps., and Apple Computer. At the heart of the case is a claim by Apple Corps. that Apple Computer agreed that it should use the apple logo only on computers, in data processing and telecommunications, and that this has been breached. Apple Corps wants Apple Computer to drop the trademark apple from its iTunes Music Store, and is also (surprise, surprise!) looking for damages.
This is not the first of such legal issues between the two Apples. The Beatles sued Apple Computer over the name in 1981, and in 1991, the Beatles sued again, alleging that Apple Computer was violating the initial agreement by using its Apple logo on music-synthesizing products. That case was settled out of court, culminating in the agreement around which the current lawsuit revolves.
Conan Chitham, partner at law firm Mishcon de Reya, told silicon.com: "It's going to come down to a deal. It's going to come down to some money."
If so, it's unlikely to hurt Steve Jobs and co too much. Chitham said: "Whatever [Apple Computer] has to pay, it can afford it."
Chitham called shutting down the iTunes Music Store an "inconceivable" outcome in part because it would be against the interests of the music industry. "If iTunes closed down, what would the music industry do? There's nothing to replace it."