Why iTunes doesn't carry the Beatles

Because the Beatles music is owned by Apple Corp., which is suing Apple Computers for the third time over trademark violations, regarding Apple Computers breaking into the music industry. And they won the last two times, in 1978-81 and 1991. Also in the article: each 99¢ song has 65¢ go to the record label, 25¢ is sucked up by distribution costs, and only 9¢ remains for Apple profits. Still, just how many songs does iTunes sell?

And while I'm on the subject,

The destitute daughters of the South African man who wrote "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (aka "Wimoweh") have successfully sued Disney for 25% of their profits from the song, as used in The Lion King and elsewhere. Said daughters work as maids, though one died of AIDS because she couldn't afford antiretroviral drugs.

I wonder if they'll next sue Pete Seeger and They Might Be Giants...