In October 2009, US-based BlueBeat.com started offering Beatles music for download for as little as $0.25 (?0.15) a track. EMI took swift legal action against the site and by November 6 had secured a temporary injunction against the service.

As part of its defence, BlueBeat claimed that because it had created what it termed "psycho-acoustic simulations" of the band's recordings, it owned the copyright in the new masters and could sell them.

BlueBeat was also offering downloads from other acts ...