Entertainment

Prince's estate files copyright infringement suit against alleged piracy network

Prince's estate is suing what it says is a European piracy network that is selling his music around the world, including his final concert.

Lawsuit seeks $2M US for each trademark violation

The estate of Prince is suing an alleged European piracy network that is accused of selling his music around the world without permission. (Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press)

Prince's estate is suing what it says is a European piracy network that is selling his music around the world, including his final concert.

The copyright infringement 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 Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the music includes the concert Prince gave in Atlanta a week before he died in April 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.

The lawsuit seeks $2 million US for each trademark violation.

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