Original: http://www.heckel.org/Heckel/ACM%20Paper/apple.htm

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Trademarks: Apple paid $30 million to use the name "Apple"

Trademark law is like patent law in that the first one who claims it gets to own it. The Beatles recorded on their own label, Apple Records. When Apple Computer was founded it agreed not to use the Apple name in the music business. Later, when the Macintosh played music, the Beatles sued. Apple Computer settled paying about $30 million dollars to use the name "Apple."

I have been publicly accused of extorting Apple. Did I extort Apple? Did the Beatles extort Apple? Should the computer business have its own sui generis trademark law?

 

(Last updated on 10/06/98)

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