Sir Paul McCartney has finally ended his 50-year feud with tech giant Apple and took to the stage as the organisation celebrated its 50-year anniversary
Sir Paul has ended his long-running feud with tech giant Apple(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Ste)
Sir Paul McCartney has ended his long-running feud with Apple. The Beatles legend, 83, has been at loggerheads with the tech giant for decades over a company set up by the Liverpool icons.
In 1968, The Beatles launched Apple Corps, as well as spin-off companies relating to books, films, electronics, and retail. But while there were various spin-offs, the most successful aspect of Apple Corps was its record label, which released hits such as The Beatles’ Hey Jude and Mary Hopkins’ Those Were The Days.
However, things came to blows over the use of the word ‘Apple’ and logos from two competing businesses when Apple Inc. ventured into music in the early 2000s. When Apple launched its first iPod, it also released iTunes, the music software that allowed people to download music and transfer it to their devices.
Both businesses were left debating over which brand had music-related rights. The Fab Four’s brand sued Apple Computer over alleged infringement of trademark and music rights, claiming the global company breached a 1991 agreement, barring Apple Computer from using the trademark for any application “whose principal content is music”.
But that appears to be a thing of the past, for now. McCartney has been overheard soundchecking at the tech giant’s California headquarters ahead of their 50th anniversary celebrations. Macca was reportedly heard practising hits such as Help, Lady Madonna, and Get Back.
Steve Jobs co-founded Apple Computer Company in 1976, along with Ronald Wayne and Steve Wozniak. Meanwhile, Neil Aspinall, The Beatles’ former road manager, was left in charge of the band’s businesses after they split in 1970. Aspinall was also responsible for spearheading the legal drama until he died in 2008.
The feud between Apple Computer and Apple Corps, owned by Macca, Sir Ringo Starr, and the estates of George Harrison and John Lennon, was settled the year before Aspinall died.
Three years after the dispute, music from The Beatles was added to the iTunes catalogue, following hints that the band’s albums would be remastered. At the time, Sir Ringo said: “I am particularly glad to no longer be asked when the Beatles are coming to iTunes.”
Macca still tours the globe and most recently performed two gigs in Los Angeles, including the 50th-anniversary show at Apple Park and two at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, attracting a huge star-studded crowd. Famous faces in the audience included Taylor Swift, Al Pacino, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and Harrison Ford.
Last week, Sir Paul confirmed his 19th solo studio album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, which is set for release on May 29. The record was recorded between 2021 and 2025 at Hogg Hill Mill studio in the UK and at a studio in Los Angeles. The lead single, Days We Left Behind was also shared on BBC Radio Merseyside.
Speaking about the new single, Macca said: “This is very much a memory song for me. The album title, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, comes from a lyric in this track. I was thinking just that, about the days I left behind and I do often wonder if I’m just writing about the past, but then I think how can you write about anything else?
“It’s just a lot of memories of Liverpool. It involves a bit in the middle about John and Forthlin Road which is the street I used to live in. Dungeon Lane is near there. I used to live in a place called Speke which is quite working class. We didn’t have much at all but it didn’t matter because all the people were great and you didn’t notice you didn’t have much.”
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