Prince Accused of Plagiarism
Written by DJ Special Blend from Chicago on January 14, 2009
The Artist formally known as Prince, then known as that symbol, then once again known as Prince, has been accused of plagiarism.
Bruno Bergonzi and Michele Vicino are two Italian writers who released “Takin’ Me to Paradise” in 1983, and the courts in Rome have ruled that “The Most Beautiful Girl in The World” borrowed from the Bergonzi and Vicino song heavily.
“Our song was first released in 1983, at the height of the Italian dance boom and it appeared on assorted compilations that were distributed internationally,” Bergonzi tells Billboard.com. “When we first heard Prince’s song we immediately took action, but this case has been dragging on for 15 years and it isn’t over yet, such is the slowness of the Italian legal system. We only decided to go public with our story now.”
The case has gone on forever, and been appealed and stuff, but this is as close as it has ever gotten to Prince having to pay. The judicial system over there has like a three tier process, and there’s only one more hearing to go before Prince has to cough up royalties and what not to those Italian brothas.
In the sentence handed down, Prince must stop distributing the song on Italian soil.
