Ono: 'Don't Hold Your Breath For Beatles Digital Deal'

The Fab Four's tracks are not currently licenced for internet downloads, meaning devotees are unable to buy the songs digitally through online retailers such as Apple's iTunes store.

Bosses at EMI, the company that owns the Beatles' recordings, have long been in negotiations with the surviving bandmembers and Apple Corps to make the catalogue available online - but the talks have so far failed to result in a deal.

In May (10), Sir Paul MCCartney blamed EMI executives for the delay, but admitted he hoped the "crazy" situation would be resolved in the near future.

But Ono, who controls Lennon's shares of the band's back catalogue, insists an agreement is still far off because she, along with MCCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison's widow Olivia, are not completely satisfied with the terms of the deal being offered.

However, Ono has refused to go into detail about the issues at the centre of the contract.

She tells Reuters, "(Apple CEO) Steve Jobs has his own idea and he's a brilliant guy. There's just an element (of the deal) that we're not very happy about, as people. We are holding out.

"Don't hold your breath... for anything."