Online Music Store Charged with Copyright Infringement over Beatles Songs

November 4, 2009

Los Angeles, California - Online music store Bluebeat.com was charged on Tuesday with copyright infringement for allegedly distributing Beatles songs without seeking permission from UK-based music giant EMI which owns the rights to the band’s recordings.

In a court-affidavit filed before a US district court in Los Angeles, EMI accused Bluebeat.com of illegally distributing and selling Beatles songs in MP3 version and asked the online music store to remove the recordings in its website’s playlists.

EMI officials said the company owns the rights to Beatles recordings and collaborates with technology giant Apple Corps which distributes the band’s music in digital version.

Meanwhile, the surviving relatives of Beatles including the spouses of late George Harrison and John Lennon receive the royalties for the songs of the legendary band which became popular during the 1960s.

Bluebeat declined to give comments regarding the copyright lawsuit.