Eversheds advises on Beatles anniversary deals
Eversheds has advised Apple Corps, one of its longest-standing clients, on two headline-grabbing deals relating to legendary pop group The Beatles.
Today sees the release of The Beatles’ entire digitally re-mastered back catalogue, along with the release of the computer game ‘The Beatles: Rock Band’ on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Wii. The launches have been timed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of the group’s final studio album, Abbey Road.
The two deals, as well as another with Disney to produce a new version of the group’s animated film Yellow Submarinein 2012, has provided Eversheds with six months of work for Apple.
Partner Nick Valner, who led the Eversheds team on all of the matters, said the raft of agreements, which included name and likeness rights as well as trademark and publishing issues, were particularly complex.
“Today is the public culmination of around six months of legal work,” Valner said.
Eversheds assistant Andrew Terry worked with Valner on the deal with video game company Harmonix Music Systems for Rock Band while Neil Mohring assisted on the EMI and Disney deals.
Disney handled the deal in-house while London-based Mayer Brown partner Steve Gare advised EMI.
Readers' comments (1)
Anonymous | 9-Sep-2009 4:52 pm
Let it Be was the Beatles' final album, though some of it was recorded before Abbey Road.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment