Steve Jobs invites Beatles to iTunes

After successfully defending itself from a lawsuit by Apple Corps ), Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs on Monday invited the Beatles to join the iTunes Music Store.

"We have always loved the Beatles, and hopefully we can now work together to get them on the iTunes Music Store," said Steve Jobs in a statement provided to Macworld.

The judgment brings to an end the lawsuit that accused Apple Computer of violating a 1991 agreement in its use of the Apple logo in association with what it regards as music-related products, the iPod and iTunes.

Apple Corps -- owned by Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with the widow of John Lennon and the estate of George Harrison -- wanted to win an injunction to prevent Apple Computer using the apple logo in connection with its iPod and iTunes products.

The judge disagreed and said the use of the Apple Computer logo was a proper one.

"We are glad to put this disagreement behind us," said Jobs.

While Jobs may want to have the lawsuit behind him, it's not over yet. Apple Corps confirmed in a statement that it plans to appeal against the decision.

Apple Corps confirmed last month that work was being done to remaster the Beatles collection in preparation for digital downloads.

The fact that the Beatles music will go online does not guarantee Apple's market-leading iTunes Music Store will get the collection. When Yoko Ono made John Lennon's catalogue available digitally last year, she did so on Real/Rhapsody, Napster, MSN and Yahoo! Unlimited, but not on iTunes.

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