Monday, November 27, 2006

Beatles: only on iPod?

If you were to visit iTunes Music Store and typed in “The Beetles,” more than 50 albums would pop up; however, none are the real deal. Fans wishing to download the actual Beetles in MP3 format have to search peer-to-peer sites like Limewire or Bearshare for unlicensed songs they can listen to free. While details remain to be worked out, Fortune has learned that iTunes is close to a deal to bring the Beatles catalog online. Apple Computer is said to become the exclusive online music store for the Beatles for a limited window of time.
If the deal goes through, it will mark a Nixon-Brezhnev-worthy truce - with the band's record label, Britain's EMI Group, serving as a peacemaker - between Apple Computer's Steve Jobs and Neil Aspinall, the onetime Beatles road manager who is now guardian of the band's business interests under the rubric Apple Corps. Even though Apple Computers is pushing for this truce, the deal could well fall apart for any number of reasons, including the long-running legal feud between Apple Corps and Apple Computer. Knowing of these incarnations, the Beatles have lodged an appeal, which is slated to be heard next February.
During Apple’s process, a lawyer for the band said that “The Beatles' position is that they don't sing jingles to peddle sneakers, beer, pantyhose, or anything else.” Notice he didn't say iPods.
Do you think Apple should control the Beetles catalog online? Should other peer-to-peer sites should be considered when making the decision?

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