THE BEATLES' entire back catalogue is to be opened up to TV advertisers for the first time - meaning commercials can feature some of the world's most famous songs such as A HARD DAY'S NIGHT and HELP. Advertising giant Procter & Gamble is the first to make use of the new ruling - using All You Need Is Luvs (sic) to promote Luvs nappies in the U.S. Fashion company Lyric Culture is next in line, having bought the rights to Revolution and Let it Be.

The rights to 259 songs by John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney are controlled by record label Sony/ATV. But the new ruling insists tracks must be re-recorded by other artists. Chief executive Martin Bandier said he had a "moral obligation" to discuss the move with McCartney, Ringo Starr, Lennon's widow Yoko Ono, and the family of the late George Harrison. Twenty years ago the Beatles sued Nike for $15 million (£7.5 million) for unauthorized use of Revolution.