# Who owns The Beatles...?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-beatles/162294>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 18, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-beatles/162294 "2003-03-18T16:05:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-beatles/162294/1 "2003-03-18T16:05:44Z")

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First, does Michael Jackson still own the rights to the Beatles’ music? (I recently heard Paul was considering buying it back?)  
And, does this include the recently released songs? Also, who owns the rights to their movies? And, lastly, what about the rights to unreleased footage being released for the first time?

Even if you cannot address all parts of my question, please feel free to share what you may know about this… - Jinx

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**Author:** ![Hobie\_the\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e99b99/32.png) [@Hobie\_the\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hobie_the_One)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-beatles/162294/2 "2003-03-18T17:41:27Z")

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[From Snopes](http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/jackson.htm)

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**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-beatles/162294/3 "2003-03-18T19:27:01Z")

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[Cecil weighs in](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a951027.html)

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**Author:** ![Nvme77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Nvme77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nvme77)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-beatles/162294/4 "2003-03-19T06:34:45Z")

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In a this months Vanity Fair, an article about MJ states he could stand to lose the rights within 3 years if he cannot repay this massive loan (140 mil) owed to Bof A. AND Sony music has the sole right to purchase the music catalogue share owned by MJ and he must submit to an accounting when they request.