Will Apple’s acquisition of Beats have legal ramifications?

After week's of rumors, Apple and Beats Electronics LLC finally came to an agreement this week, as the tech giant purchased the headphone manufacturer and music subscription service for $3 billion. It marks Apple's largest acquisition ever and has resulted in widespread analysis and speculation across the tech industry.

Beats founders Andre Romelle Young — known to the public as Dr. Dre — and music mogul Jimmy Iovine will join Apple after earning $2.6 billion from the initial sale, with an additional $400 million that will vest over time. While industry media have expressed myriad opinions, those inside Apple are optimistic about the partnership going forward.

"Music is such an important part of all of our lives and holds a special place within our hearts at Apple," Apple CEO Tim Cook said in the statement. "That's why we have kept investing in music and are bringing together these extraordinary teams so we can continue to create the most innovative music products and services in the world."

It's yet to be seen what Apple ultimately does with its new acquisition, but it's likely there will be some legal ramifications. Apple's constant legal battles with Samsung have made a number of headlines in the past few years, including earlier this month when the company filed a motion to ban Samsung smartphones that the company claims infringe on its patents.

If Apple owns Beats' patents, will it have more power? Companies that earn their intellectual property rights do have the right to protect themselves, so it's important to have the right legal services at their disposal. 

Categorised in: Business Law

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