New York - Representatives of the Beatles are in talks with Activision (NASD: ATVI) and Viacom's (NYSE: VIA) MTV Games, makers of the "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" video games, respectively, on deals that would license Beatles songs for inclusion in future iterations of the games, the Financial Times reported on Monday. The deals are reported to be worth "several million dollars," sources told FT, and could be completed within weeks.

Cupertino, Calif. - Following a report over the weekend in the U.K.'s Telegraph that said Sir Paul McCartney had signed a $400 million deal with Apple (NASD: AAPL) to distribute the Beatles catalog on the iTunes Store, Apple has dismissed the claim as unsubstantiated speculation. "This is not news nor is it a scoop," an Apple spokesman told Billboard.

Los Angeles - NASA on Friday announced plans to for the first time beam music into deep space, and has chosen the Beatles' "Across the Universe," to commemorate events including the 50th anniversary of the formation of NASA, and the 50th anniversary of key events in the formation of the Beatles. Monday, Feb. 4 also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the launch of Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite, and the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' recording of "Across the Universe." The song will be aimed at Polaris (aka the North Star), which is situated 2.5 quadrillion miles away, and will not arrive at its destination until the year 2439. "I see that this is the beginning of the new age in which we will communicate with billions of planets across the universe," said Yoko Ono.

Detroit - The lucrative catalog of the Beatles will likely be made available in downloadable digital format for the first time in 2008, former Beatle Paul McCartney tells Billboard. "It's all happening soon… there's just maybe one little sticking point left, and I think it's being cleared up as we speak, so it shouldn't be too long. It's down to fine-tuning, but I'm pretty sure it'll be happening next year, 2008," McCartney told Billboard.

Hollywood, Calif. - EMI and Capitol Records has made much of the late George Harrison's solo catalog available from digital retailers, marking the last of the former Beatles' works to be made available digitally. The Beatles' lucrative catalog still has yet to be made available from digital retailers. Initially, nine of Harrison's solo records are being made available -- including as premium, DRM-free downloads -- with the remainder to follow in 2008. "It is exciting that George's catalog is finally available for downloading," said Olivia Harrison. "He had begun the digital remastering of his albums but had no idea how the digital world would change the way we access and listen to music."

Chicago - Hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan have become the first musicians to legally license a sample from a Beatles song for one of their own compositions, Pitchfork reported on Tuesday.

Cupertino, Calif. - Apple on Tuesday announced the addition of Beatle John Lennon's solo catalog on label EMI Music to the iTunes Store.

New York - Billboard reports that Paul McCartney, who is releasing his latest record to digital and mobile retailers, says that a deal to make the Beatles' lucrative catalog available for purchase from digital retailers is "virtually settled."

London - The Beatles have settled a $59 million dispute over royalties with record label EMI, London's Daily Telegraph reported. Along with the settlement in February of a dispute between the Beatles' label, Apple Corps, and Apple Computer over use of the "Apple" name with regard to music, the announcement could pave the way for songs by the Beatles -- longtime digital holdouts -- to begin selling at iTunes and other digital retailers.

London - Wippit, a U.K.-based digital download service, has secured the rights to offer a range of rare Beatles interviews and other news appearances on its service in all regions -- except North America, the BBC reported. Provided by ITN, Reuters and Pathe, the selections include footage of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1969 "bed-in," the band meeting Queen Elizabeth, and Lennon's comment about the Beatles being "more popular than Jesus." Wippit will offer individual clips for about 95 cents, or in bundles starting at about $9.67.

Cupertino, Calif. - Apple Inc. on Monday announced that it has ended a long-running trademark dispute with Apple Corps, the Beatles' record label, over the use of the name "Apple".