1. It’s Not Art
But I Know What I Like

2. Apple
In 1968, The Beatles who were looking to get a better record deal and a break on taxes started their own multimedia company called “Apple.” Apple focused on :
Music Publishing
Recording Studios
Film Production
Clothing and Retail
Electronics

3. Apple Inc.
In 1976, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne start “Apple Computer” and incorporate the company as “Apple Inc.” Roland Wayne designed their logo which was viewed as too complicated by Jobs, Wozniak and investors so in 1977, graphic designer Rob Janoff was hired to design a new one.

4. Apple Inc.
Rob Janoff’s new logo design was accepted but it soon caught the attention of The Beatles who took Apple Inc. to court for copyright infrindgement.

5. Apple vs Apple Inc. Round One
In 1978 The Beatles took Apple Inc. to court and in 1981 settled on $80,000 with a stipulation that Apple Inc. would not enter the music business. In return, Apple changed it’s name to Apple Corp. to distinguish it from Apple Inc.

6. Apple Corps. vs Apple Inc. Round Two
For ten years all is well in Apple Land until in 1991, An Apple Corps. employee sampled the new Apple computer log in chime and noticed it mysteriously sounded like “So Sue Me” and so, The Beatles took Apple Inc. to court again. This time The Beatles weren’t so forgiving and settled for $26,500,000.

7. Apple Corps. vs Apple Inc. Round Three
By now you would think that Apple Inc. would learn but….in 2003 Apple Inc. launched ITunes so it could control and profit the music files played on it’s IPod Music Player which was in clear violation of their agreement with Apple Corps. The surviving Beatles were not pleased and once again took Apple Inc. to court.

8. Apple Corps. vs Apple Inc. Round Three
After a four year court battle the courts were leaning towards Apple Corps. and there was a real possibility Apple Inc. would have to change both their name and logo which would severely damage its brand. So a settlement was reached. Apple Inc. agreed to pay Apple Corps. $500,000,000 and in return, The Beatles would make their entire music catalogue available for download on ITunes giving ITunes an undisclosed percentage of sales.

9. Perspective
To put things in perspective, Pablo Picasso’s 1932 “Green Leaves and Bust” is the most expensive piece of art ever sold at auction. It sold for $106,482,500 less than half of the Apple Corps. logo settlement.

10. Perspective
The Beatles are most successful music group of all time. To date they have sold over a billion albums world wide. No one else even comes close. Yet despite all that success, they have made more money from the Apple name and Apple logo than all of the albums, posters, t-shirts, buttons and lunch boxes they have sold in the last 50 years combined.

11. Perspective
By now you can guess, Paul is really happy… If that actually is Paul and not some imposter who took his place after a horrific car crash in 1966.