Apple and Apple Come Together

What do you know, it looks like they can work it out. Apple Inc. (the technology company, formerly Apple Computer) and Apple Corps Ltd. (the company that handles the Beatles' music) have finally settled their long-running trademark dispute.

The conflict stems from their first clash in 1978, when Apple Corps sued Apple Computer for trademark infringement. (Although the companies' logos have changed over the decades, they've always been apples -- though the technology company's logo has always had a bite taken out of it.) That was settled, with Apple Computer agreeing not to enter the music business. With Apple Computer's every music-related advancement, including of course iTunes and the iPod, the two have butted legal heads.

As of yesterday's legal settlement, Apple Inc. now owns all the "Apple"-related trademarks, with Apple Corps licensing the Apple name and their logo from Apple Inc.

The question now is when the Beatles' music will finally make it to iTunes. Last April it was revealed that the Beatles catalog was being digitally remastered, hinting at the Fab Four's music coming to an iPod near you. Though officially Apple Corps is hemming and hawing, you just know it's gonna happen.