Prince’s estate sues alleged European piracy network

Published 10:06 pm Friday, September 7, 2018

MINNEAPOLIS — Prince’s estate is suing what it said is a European piracy network that is selling his music around the world, including his final concert.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Minnesota last week alleges that defendants in France, Belgium and the Netherlands are selling unreleased studio recordings and bootlegged recordings of his live performances without permission.

The Star Tribune reported that the music includes the concert Prince gave in Atlanta a week before he died in 2016 of an accidental fentanyl overdose. The defendants didn’t immediately reply to the newspaper’s messages seeking comment. Court records don’t list attorneys for them.

Email newsletter signup

The lawsuit seeks $2 million for each trademark violation.

Mike Sherrill, a Minneapolis copyright attorney not involved in the case, said chances of collecting are slim.