Sony/ATV is expected to consider similar offers to the £5m deal that allowed Microsoft to use the Rolling Stones' 'Start Me Up' in a global advertising campaign.

The company does not need permission from Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono or the family of George Harrison to make the deals, but Martin Bandier, chief executive of Sony/ATV, said that he felt a "moral obligation" to discuss uses of the catalogue with them.

Hollywood studios are said to be prepared to offer millions of dollars to use original Beatles music on soundtracks. Rap stars have also been allowed to "reference" Beatles songs to create new hits so long as they don't carry a "bad message".

In August last year, Beatles song 'All You Need is Love' was used in a US ad for Procter & Gamble's nappy brand Luvs after advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi purchased the rights to use it from Sony/ATV.

The use of the song, which became a peace anthem during the Vietnam war, angered Beatles fans around the world, leading to a deluge of complaints on fan forums and sites.

(Source: media)