Apple Computer Inc. on Tuesday lost a High Court bid to have its legal case brought by the management company for legendary Fab Four rockers, the Beatles, moved from Britain to the United States. The California computer maker has been embroiled in a trademark dispute since September with the similarly named London-based Apple Corps., the company formed in 1968 to manage the band’s business interests and act as its music label.

Apple Corps. took the computer maker to court, accusing Apple Computer of violating a 1991 agreement specifying that it could use the Apple trademark for computer products only. The Beatles management said Apple Computer broke the agreement when it used the fruity logo and trademark to promote its iTunes online music store, the most popular Internet download service in the world.

Reuters