Beatles iTunes Deal Coming Together?

After years of waiting and legal battles, there's been various rumors that Apple iTunes music service may finally be ready to sell the music of legendary band, The Beatles in digital format. InformationWeek.com reported that iTunes and the Beatles have "Come Together". However, the rumors have been disputed by Apple Inc. in a Billboard article. According to Billboard.com's article: Reports on Friday suggested that unnamed sources "close to Sir Paul McCartney" had confirmed that the Beatles catalog would be available online though iTunes and other legal services "within months." However, the claim has been met with a string of "no comments" from the Beatles' own label Apple Corps, and EMI. "This is not news nor is it a scoop," says an Apple Inc. spokesman, declining further comment. Efforts to clear the Beatles' music for digital distribution were long delayed by a trademark dispute between Apple Inc. and Apple Corps., which was finally resolved in February 2007. Speculation about the catalog's arrival online increased following a Billboard interview with McCartney in May 2007, in which he said that the deal to release it was "virtually settled." Olivia Harrison, the widow of George, had made comments in June 07' which indicated Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and reps for her late husband had agreed that their material should be made available. Paul McCartney had also told Billboard.com last year that they were "fine tuning" things but he expected an early 2008 release of the Beatles material for iTunes. Read more about the various rumors surrounding the Beatles & iTunes deal.