Beatles Songs to be online

[albionmoonlight]

http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/13/technology/beatles.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

I thought that Michael Jackson owned the Beatles songs, though. Wouldn't it be up to him to decide whether to release them online? I know nothing about what it means to "own" a catalog of songs--so please educate me.

[DanGarion]

I believe he sold them. Because he has to deal with lawsuits of children he molests.

[SackAttack]

There's a link at the bottom of the article that points to a new article suggesting that MJ will sell 50% of his 50% stake in the catalog to Sony.

But it only being a 50% share to begin with, I don't know if it's a control issue so much as a revenue issue.

[cthomer5000]

http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/13/technology/beatles.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

I thought that Michael Jackson owned the Beatles songs, though. Wouldn't it be up to him to decide whether to release them online? I know nothing about what it means to "own" a catalog of songs--so please educate me.
Apple Records owns the rights to the recordings, so they can release those or any variation of the recordings they own whenever they'd like.

I'm pretty sure Apple doesn't need the approval of any of those who own the publishing rights, since those who own the publishing rights make their money on a per-sale basis.

The legalities of song ownership are pretty confusing in general.

edit: And then you still have the writers who also get paid on a per-sale basis.

[Joe]

theyre already online at allofmp3.com...

:)