Beatles Claim Legal Coup: ‘Revolution’ Ads to End

Nike, the athletic shoe and sportswear company, agreed Monday to stop using an original recording of the Beatles song “Revolution” in its commercials, a lawyer for the Beatles said.

“They had an option to extend use of the recording for another year and have decided to waive that,” said Leonard Marks, the lawyer for the Beatles.

In July, 1987, the Beatles filed a $15-million lawsuit in state Supreme Court in Manhattan against the Beaverton, Ore., company demanding the commercials be pulled.

“The lawsuit remains in effect, and we’re hopeful that the parties will reach a complete settlement in the near future,” Marks said. “The Beatles are very pleased that Nike is going to take the commercials off the air.”

A Nike spokesman confirmed Monday that the company has decided not to use the Beatles music for another year, but denied that the decision involved the lawsuit. “The ad has run its one-year course,” the spokesman said.

The ads were the first time an actual Beatles recording was used in the promotion of a commercial product, he said.

“The Beatles brought this (lawsuit) for two reasons. One is they don’t sing jingles or endorse commercial products,” Marks said. “The other is a warning to advertisers that if they use Beatles recordings in connection with endorsements, they’re going to be sued.”

The commercials, which show Michael Jordan, star of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and tennis star John McEnroe, are scheduled to be taken off the air March 22, he said.