Björn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Fältskog, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad in their suits, with which they were digitally measured for their upcoming concerts
Photo: picture alliance/dpa/PA Media, Industrial Light And. All rights reserved.
ABBA have settled the lawsuit against a tribute band. A lawyer for the quartet confirmed that the defendant cover group ABBA MANIA agreed to stop using the ABBA name.
Hard words against the imitation
In a lawsuit filed on December 3, the Swedish icons called the tribute band’s behavior “parasitic and malicious”. The accusation: copyright infringement. ABBA MANIA would intentionally mislead the public into believing the band authorized the act. “Defendants use the terms ‘official’ and ‘original’ in much of their marketing materials, websites and social media, leading consumers to believe that there is some sort of connection, affiliation or sponsorship between ABBA and ABBA MANIA,” it said it in suit.
Apparently the cover band has now given in
In advance, ABBA MANIA had actually rejected an attempt at mediation by the band in the sense of a name change. Now the turnaround: A lawyer from the law firm Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu has confirmed to the music magazine “Billboard” that the tribute band will no longer use the name ABBA. However, details have not yet been announced – at least on Instagram the group still operates under its disputed name.