Prince Sues His No. 1 Fans

by Terrence O'Brien — Nov 7th 2007 at 12:19PM

Two months ago, we told you about Prince suing YouTube, eBay, and BitTorrent site Pirate Bay for enabling the piracy of his music. We suggested, as politely as we possibly could, that perhaps the elfin former superstar should take a lesson from Metallica, salvage some dignity, and try to avoid legal tussles over fans sharing his music.

Well, apparently Prince was listening, but somehow he's found another way to alienate the music aficionados who love him. Instead of suing file sharers, he's now going after his most popular fan sites for posting pictures of him, album art, and lyrics to his songs. Needless to say, this isn't exactly what we had in mind.

Really, this sort of self destructive insanity shouldn't be too shocking, since it comes from a guy whose rider on a recent tour supposedly included dark chocolate, black rooms, an oxygen bar and three sexy girls. Even so, we still can't help but be amazed by the continued audacity of the washed-up funk star.

This time however the fans are fighting back. Prince is already seeing the beginnings of a backlash similar to that which Metallica faced following its decision to sue the users of Napster. Three of the most popular Prince fan sites, Prince.org, Houseqake.com, and Princefams.com have joined forces to create Prince Fans United, an organization dedicated fighting the lawsuits based on the doctrines of fair use and free speech.

These Web sites, along with several others, have "received notices to cease and desist all use of photographs, images, lyrics, album covers and anything linked to Prince's likeness," and been told to provide "substantive details of the means by which you [the fansites] propose to compensate our clients [Paisley Park Enterprises, NPG Records and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG)] for damages..." The demands go as far as mandating that the sites pull down pictures fans have taken of their own tattoos, as well as photos of their Prince-inspired license plates.

Prince Fans United hopes that Prince and his army of lawyers will reconsider, but we figure it's highly unlikely seeing as it's obvious he's lost his damn mind.

See our gallery of Prince's fan sites here.

Gallery: Prince's Fan Sites

From BBC

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)

Granny J said 12:36PM on 11-07-2007

Ya gotta wonder about these "celebrities" who get so full of themselves that they forget all about who it is that made them popular in the first place.

bret said 12:44PM on 11-07-2007

Purple Douche

mickey said 2:33PM on 11-07-2007

I'm surprised he's doing this, after giving away his latest Cd's at concerts, etc. He's still popular because he's a great performer, but his last album mostly sucked and the 2 before that were only ok. Prince, you're lucky to still be relevant. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

David said 3:58PM on 11-07-2007

When you're out of touch and boring, you'll do anything to get publicity. The only one he impresses is himself!

amanda said 4:38PM on 11-07-2007

I have never liked prince. And now I have another reason not to. He forgets that all these people buy his cd's and download his music. Way to go buddy.

Kat said 5:12PM on 11-07-2007

Prince should form a band with Lars Ulrich and call it the Washed Up Whiney Douchebags.
What a couple of losers. I have tons of Metallica as well as Prince music on my laptop...and didn't pay a penny for any of it.

Scott said 5:28PM on 11-07-2007

Prince is a pompous, self-righteous a--hole. I used to think he was a brilliant artist. Now he's turned into nothing more than a selfish, bitter old queen. Take your stupid songs and records, purple d*ck, and hole yourself up in your ridiculous recording studio with them, and enjoy the rest of your ridiculous life without your "fans."

Amanda said 6:14PM on 11-07-2007

wow. seriously? this man is so INTO himself. his pride, his ego, his self-righteous little rampages of, "DONT WORSHIP ME THAT WAY WORSHIP ME MY WAY, WITHOUT PICTURES!" are truly revolting. i didn't have a problem with him before but what a vain, selfish, self-serving man. he really thinks he's something. he really thinks he's worth more than he is. SORRY PRINCE, WE KNOW YOU HATE YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU'RE SO SHORT AND THE ONLY LADIES YOU GET WITH ARE WASTED/PAID HEAVILY/MIDGETS/ FLAT OUT GOLD-DIGGERS and sorry a lot of people have stopped caring about you.. you are getting attention but you are gaining enemies and rejection, you douchebag. sue me, prince. please! i think i said your name out loud once!

Scott said 6:16PM on 11-07-2007

Makes perfect sense, Kat. You're a big fan, you have all his music, yet didn't pay for it. Now why would anyone holding a Federal Copyright on their own artistic creation get made when their livlihood gets stolen ? Oh wait that's right, since new technology makes it OK to steal, then everything is fine.

Ron said 6:17PM on 11-07-2007

QUIT HATING!, Prince is still the best entertainer, musician, and showman, in the last 30 years. The idiot who wrote this article clearly showed his bias, maybe out of jealousy. The man has a right to market his image and his music. I have been following his music since I was a teenager, and I am proud to say, I have purchased ninety percent of his Albums, CD's, and downloads Legally. QUIT HATING!!!!

Sharp Black Metal said 6:32PM on 11-07-2007

Prince does have a legal right to decide how his image and music are distributed, but going after his fans with such venom is like biting off
his nose to spite his face. Back in the days of Purple Rain and Sign o' the TImes, I was a super fan (posters all over my walls, etc...) but I haven't been a fan of any of his music after Diamonds and Pearls. I think that this shitty power move on Prince's part is going to come back to bite him in the ass. He hasn't had a hit song in years, so I would think that he would be happy that fans are still crazy about him.

Martin said 6:33PM on 11-07-2007

In answer to the question "Why"? Because he formerly had an income and wants another one?

Keith said 6:39PM on 11-07-2007

I can understand suing over the music piracy and use of copyrighted material without consent. I am disappointed that he would sue NON-PROFIT fan sites, though. If anything, they are promoting his artistry and business for free.

BTW, Kat you and anyone else downloading music on-line without paying for it are thieves.

Doug said 6:45PM on 11-07-2007

Although I don't agree with his tactics, his music is copyrighted and he has a right to receive payment for it. People like Kat brag about how they have all this music and didn't pay a dime for any of it. You are a thief, plain and simple. I owned and operated a chain of record stores in southern California and had to close in 2003 primarily due to thiefs like Kat and others who think that life is free.

Jonathan said 6:53PM on 11-07-2007

Scott says: Makes perfect sense, Kat. You're a big fan, you have all his music, yet didn't pay for it. Now why would anyone holding a Federal Copyright on their own artistic creation get mad when their livlihood gets stolen ? Oh wait that's right, since new technology makes it OK to steal, then everything is fine. 11/07/07 6:16 PM
------------------------------------------------

From one songwriter to another - AGREED !!!

Jonathan

PaulChristenson said 6:56PM on 11-07-2007

Prince who?

E said 6:59PM on 11-07-2007

All of them should immediately take down all of the sites that pay any tribute to him. They should then have their heads examined for idolizing such a self absorbed piece of work. The guy is a waste fo time if he is acting like that.

Tim said 7:00PM on 11-07-2007

Never liked that little purple pansy ass anyway.

Jackie Maddox said 7:08PM on 11-07-2007

Prince is suing those that own these websites;
and he should. You dumb sh-ts. I'm sure there is enough free prince pictures and what ever out there..these people using his pictures and info are making money off you people everytime you view the site..duh...ok he's washed up...I bet he has more money than any of you could ever imagine in your life.

Brenda English said 7:16PM on 11-07-2007

He is really getting too old for the type of show he puts on. Isnt he about 50? He is just a little bit creepy and a whole lot full of himself. I think he is just plain sad.

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 20 Comments

Add your comments

Your comments:

Remember me

E-Mail me when someone replies to this comment

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.

Switched Video

Most Emailed Stories

Editors' Picks

Weirdest Techie Heists and Scams

Elderly Amish Man Caught on Film With Prostitute, Blackmailed
When a 75-year-old Amish widower slept with a prostitute, he -- we feel certain -- felt pretty bad about it the next morning. As if that guilt weren't enough for the old man, the prostitute and her boyfriend demanded $67,000 from him, claiming that they had filmed the scene with wall-mounted cameras and would upload the recording to the Internet. The pair was later arrested and, we can only imagine, the Amish man abhorred technology more than ever.

Bank Robber Gets Away With the Help of Craiglist
In October, a bank robber -- wearing a safety vest, blue shirt, face mask and goggles -- eluded police with the help of Craiglist. Just outside the bank, while the robbery was in progress, stood a group of men who were responding to a Craiglist day labor opportunity. As the advertisement required, they were all wearing safety vests, blue shirts, face masks and goggles.

Nude New Zealander Arrested After Responding to Fake Sexy Text Message
Late in 2007, a Wellington, New Zealand man received a racy text message from two anonymous "ladies," giving him only an address and a request that he show up naked. Well, he indeed showed up naked... at the home of one appalled, unsuspecting New Zealander. Both the nude Romeo and the sadistic texter were arrested, though neither were prosecuted.

Fake Craiglist Ad Costs Man Most of What He Owns
Last Spring, a post appeared on an Oregon Craigslist board stating that the owner of a specific house was leaving all of his worldly possessions (still in said house) to whoever wanted them. When homeowner Robert Salisbury rushed home -- on a tip from a woman suspicious about the offer of a free horse -- he found his house being ransacked by 30 strangers. We suggest he take that horse and collect some vengeance Clint Eastwood-style.

17-Year-Old Jailed for Stealing Virtual 'Furniture'
When a 17-year-old Dutch boy hacked into several accounts on the Second Life-style site 'Habbo' in 2007, the the law got involved. The boy was discovered to have stolen $5,800 worth of virtual furniture and knick-knacks. Apparently, crime -- whether actual or virtual -- does not pay.

Phishers Going After Your Phones in New 'Vishing' Trend
Over the past year, sneaky spammers have begun to forsake the worn-out territory of e-mail in favor of cell phones' fertile frontier. The result? "Vishing." Get it? Voice mail phishing. It might be more ominous if it didn't sound like a James Bond villain saying, "Wishing."

Burglars Break Into Restaurant, Steal HDTV, Leave Money / Food Behind
Around Halloween of last year, a truckload of thieves drove into -- that's right, into -- a Pennsylvania Mexican restaurant, where they -- apparently uninterested in the cash register -- stole a mid-grade 47-inch HDTV and fled the scene. We've all heard about how this generation is lacking in ambition, but this generation's thieves, too?

Latest Reviews from CNET.com

CNET provides the latest tech news, unbiased reviews, videos, podcasts, software, and downloads, making tech products easy to find, understand and use.

Top Product Reviews

Home Audio Reviews
9.0 out of 10
Denon AVR-4306 (black)
Incredibly well-featured 7.1-channel receiver; excellent sound quality; three HDMI inputs; converts analog video to HDMI output; upconverts analog video to 720p/1080i HD resolution; iPod and USB MP3 player connectivity; Internet radio and MP3/WMA streaming audio via built-in Ethernet port; XM Satellite Radio compatible; touch-screen remote; multizone, multisource operation; browser-based control via home network; accurate autocalibration routine. Full Review
8.8 out of 10
KEF KHT3005 (black)
The KEF KHT-3005 is one compact, beautifully designed speaker package with solid aluminum satellites that feature unique driver technology to produce incredible clarity. Meanwhile, the equally astounding dual 10-inch, 250-watt powered subwoofer delivers ultradeep bass. Full Review
8.8 out of 10
KEF KHT3005 (silver)
The KEF KHT-3005 is one compact, beautifully designed speaker package with solid aluminum satellites that feature unique driver technology to produce incredible clarity. Meanwhile, the equally astounding dual 10-inch, 250-watt powered subwoofer delivers ultradeep bass. Full Review
Cell Phone Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Wi-Ex zBoost YX510-PCS-CEL cell phone signal extender
The Wi-Ex zBoost YX510-PCS-CEL significantly boosts your cell phone reception and is easy to operate. Also, it uses a wireless connection to your phone. Full Review
8.6 out of 10
Turbo Charge Tc2 portable cell phone charger
The Turbo Charge Tc2 portable cell phone charger successfully delivers emergency power to your cell phone. It's easy to use and comes with a couple of surprising features. Full Review
8.3 out of 10
LG VX6000 (Verizon Wireless)
Compact and stylish; impressive battery life; solid audio quality; sharp color screen; built-in camera; USB ready; affordable. Full Review
Digital Camera Reviews

9.3 out of 10
Canon EOS 1D Mark III
Extremely fast, 10-megapixel continuous shooting; very low noise; highly customizable; well-designed body with weather sealing; 3-inch LCD; abundant optional accessories. Full Review
9.3 out of 10
Nikon D3 (body only)
Full-frame sensor; well designed, pro-level weather-sealed body; very low noise, even at extremely high ISOs; fast. Full Review
9.0 out of 10
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Very low noise, high quality images; 21.1 megapixels; live view shooting; pro-level build-quality and performance. Full Review
Desktop Reviews

8.5 out of 10
Apple iMac (24-inch, 2.8GHz)
A minor specification update results in some significant performance gains; graphics upgrade an option on this 24-inch model; sleek, polished design didn't receive an update, but we won't start clamoring for a new design until the current one is at least 12 months old. Full Review
8.4 out of 10
Velocity Raptor Signature Edition Gaming PC
One of the fastest PCs we've tested; a PCI Express RAID card helps media encoding performance; typically immaculate Velocity Micro assembly; strong, three-year warranty. Full Review
8.3 out of 10
Dell Studio Desktop Computer (Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200, 750GB HDD, 6GB)
Best performance in its class; dedicated graphics card; large hard drive. Full Review