NEW YORK: The Swedish pop supergroup ABBA filed a lawsuit to stop a British cover band known as Abba Mania from using that name.
In a complaint filed with the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, lawyers for ABBA accused Abba Mania's managers of "parasitic and bad-faith conduct" by trading off ABBA's goodwill and cachet in promoting Abba Mania.
ABBA said the defendants have ignored its demands to stop using Abba Mania on social media, YouTube and the abbamania.com website, or take its suggestion to use "ABBA Tribute" in a way that won't confuse people.
The corporate defendants include Handshake Ltd of Manchester, England, and TAL Entertainment Ltd of Bicester, England.
Neither immediately responded on Friday to requests for comment outside business hours.
ABBA's trademark infringement lawsuit comes amid a U.S. tour for Abba Mania, which calls itself "The Original Tribute from London's West End!", that includes a Feb. 2022 date in Middletown, New York, about a 90-minute drive from Manhattan.
Polar Music International AB, the named plaintiff, has handled ABBA business affairs since the group's 1972 founding in Stockholm. Its lawsuit also seeks a variety of damages.
Abba Mania's website says "Abba Mania is in no way associated, affiliated, or endorsed by Polar Music or ABBA" in small capital letters.
ABBA has sold an estimated 385 million records, and is known for such songs as "Waterloo," "Dancing Queen," "Money, Money, Money" and "The Winner Takes It All." It was also one of the first acts to use music videos to promote its music.
The group last month released its first new album in 40 years, "Voyage," and is planning a stage show featuring digital avatars of its members, who are now in their 70s, replicating their 1970s look.
Reuters
Mon Dec 06 2021
ABBA said the defendants have ignored its demands to stop using Abba Mania on social media, YouTube and the abbamania.com website, or take its suggestion to use "ABBA Tribute" in a way that won't confuse people. - REUTERS/Filepic
Letupan bom Sungai Golok: Empat anggota keselamatan Thailand cedera
Empat anggota keselamatan Thailand cedera apabila terkena letupan bom di Sungai Golok, Thailand, malam tadi.
Berang tidak bantu angkat tong gas, penghantar barang dibelasah, motosikal dirosakkan
Suspek menyerang mangsa dengan topi keledar sehingga menyebabkan mangsa mengalami kecederaan di dahi.
Arahan tutup pasar malam waktu Maghrib tidak babitkan peniaga bukan Islam
Arahan penutupan sementara hanya membabitkan peniaga Islam bagaimanapun turut menggalakkan peniaga bukan Islam sekiranya mahu berbuat demikian.
Pelan Tindakan Pendidikan dan Penghayatan Rukun Negara dilancar Ogos ini - Aaron
Ia melibatkan Kementerian Perpaduan Negara, Kementerian Pendidikan, Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi, dan Kementerian Komunikasi.
Peserta maraton Cyberjaya dipapah lepasi garisan penamat
Peserta maraton rebah di garisan penamat sejurus sebelum menamatkan larian 42km dalam perlumbaan Twincity Marathon Cyberjaya.
Proton buka pusat penyelidikan dan pembangunan di Teluk Hangzhou, China
Pembukaan pusat R&D itu akan meningkatkan sinergi kecekapan dalaman mereka dengan penggunaan sumber dan pengetahuan Geely.
AWANI Ringkas: Wujudkan akta lindungi pekerja OKU/autistik
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Calon PH tayang sijil UPSR 7A, SPM 10A
Calon PH, Pang Sock Tao menyahut cabaran Ketua Penerangan Pas, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari supaya menunjukkan kelulusan pendidikan rendah dan menengahnya.
AWANI Ringkas: Wujudkan akta lindungi pekerja OKU/autistik
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Isu stoking: Pengarah KK Mart, isteri akan kemuka representasi kepada AGC
Pengarah KK Mart yang berdepan dua pertuduhan melukakan perasaan orang Islam dalam isu berkaitan penjualan stoking tertera kalimah Allah akan mengemukakan representasi kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara.
ABBA kembali tersenarai dalam carta muzik UK selepas 40 tahun
Lagu "Don't Shut Me Down" mendapat tempat ke-9 dalam Official Singles Chart di United Kingdom.