U.S. District Judge Ronald Whyte in San Jose, CA has ruled that the trademark lawsuit between Apple Computer and Apple Corps can be heard in that state, notes The LA Times (free subscription required). “Apple Corps’ ‘choice to file suit three times within California renders it immensely reasonable to now require the defendant to defend against a suit in California,’ Whyte wrote in his ruling. Apple Corps, which is owned by members of the Beatles and their families, claims that the iTunes online music store breaches a 1991 agreement over the “Apple” trademark. The British High Court has yet to rule on the request by Apple Computer to have the case heard in California.
