ABBA isn’t happy a tribute band named itself ABBA MANIA
In a lawsuit, the Swedish group claims the name is "parasitic" and in "bad-faith"
Aux News ABBA
ABBA is back, and the group isn’t happy with tribute band ABBA MANIA. This is hardly the first ABBA cover band, but the issue here is the name. ABBA is suing ABBA MANIA for copyright infringement, saying that the tribute band’s use of “ABBA” in their name is “parasitic and [in] bad-faith.”
According to the Swedish group, the tribute band’s name is a “brazen attempt” to take advantage of their “cachet.” The band also claims that by ABBA MANIA including “the term ‘official’ and ‘original’ in many of their marketing materials, website pages, and social media handles,” they give “consumers the impression that there is some kind of association, affiliation, or sponsorship between ABBA and ABBA MANIA.”
When you visit the ABBA MANIA site, it clearly states that “ABBA MANIA is no way associated, affiliated, or endorsed by Polar Music or ABBA.” It’s hard to miss, as it’s labeled on top of every page. But that was still not enough to get ABBA off their backs. In the suit, ABBA allege that they asked the tribute band to change their name, but they refused to comply, so that’s why they are taking legal action.
While there are other ABBA tribute acts, ABBA MANIA is currently the biggest. They performed for 12 nights at London’s West End in 2002, and have remained active since 1999. So, it’s not like they just formed to cash in on ABBA’s return.
This isn’t the only ABBA tribute band that’s faced legal issues, either. A*Teens, that were massive in the early 2000s amongst tweens in the Radio Disney era, had to change their name from ABBA Teens because of that copyright infringement. The group embraced it, as it allowed them to make original pop music while still convincing kids that the music their parents like is actually cool.
29 Comments
Should have called it Abba Normal
They will NOT be angry.
If they’re suing over the use of the name ABBA, they should just call themselves ABBBA instead.
The extra “b” is for “bbypassing copyright infringement”.
How about BAAB? Or maybe they should just try spelling ABBA backwards.
AABA, named for the song structure (see also Genesis’ “Abacab”).
AB𐐒A
ABBABBA has a certain ring to it.
ABBADABBADOO
ABBADABBADOO
What’s the extra B on bbypassing for?
That’s a typo.
fuck yeah
They should use regular expressions and just call themselves AB+A
Abba Mia!
So using the name ABBA in your tribute band name is “a ‘brazen attempt’ to take advantage of their ‘cachet’”, but getting paid for performing ABBA’s music isn’t?
Nobody tell them about ABBASBACK, ABBALANCHE, ABBAFAB, ABBALIVE, BABBA… and that’s just the first google search page of bands I could find in Australia.
I’m assuming they’ll let Abbalanche off the hook for having a pretty good name.
But will they ignore the “ABA Plumbing” van I just saw parked on the side of the street. I mean that one B could stand for Benny OR Bjorn.
It stands for Both-Benny-And-Bjorn.
Agreed, Abbalanche is an awesome name.
I think ABBACADO works.Then if they go the metal route instead, they can be GWARCAMOLE.Play me off, Johnny!
Well, I’m gonna go sue BeatleMania now. I should’ve realized there was no way this long defunct band had suddenly reformed billing itself as a tribute band instead of just calling itself “The Beatles”.AbbaMania, how you have deceived us. How dare you represent yourself as the actual band suddenly materializing with different members and a different name as a tribute act.
Unrelated but if you’re looking for another good Beatles tribute band, I would like to suggest A Hard Night’s Day. BeatleMania is really good for encompassing the whole career whereas AHND focuses primarily on the early years.Idk why I felt compelled to evangelize here, I just really like them.
Handel’s “Messiah”. Not the actual messiah, but an incredible simulation.
ABBA TOIR
…..and we have a winner.
Won’t someone think of the poor incredibly rich people?
ABBA DABBA DOO!!
Just name the band BAAB and be done wirh it.