After a three-year court battle, Viktor Belan lost the right to the stage name Dima Bilan with which he has become hugely known in Russia and Europe. The court decision was issued on Thursday and it rules that the rights to the name, stage act amd entire project of Dima Bilan belong to StarPro agency and the singer has no right to use them any more.
In 2002, young hopeful Viktor Belan signed a contract with producer Yuri Aizenshpis who was, hence, the legal owner of the name, projectand stage act of Dima Bilan. After Mr Aizenshpis' death in 2005, the rights were transferred to his legal heirs. Dima Bilan signed a contract with another producer, Yana Rudkovskaya, but Mr Aizenshpis's heirs claimed that he had no right to perform any more as Dima Bilan under the new management. Dima/Viktor on the other hand claimed that he used to use the name Dima Bilan before he signed with Mr Aizenshpis.
After three years in court, it seems now clear that the popular singer will not be able to perform any more as Dima Bilan as the Moscow court ruled on Thursday that his case is groundless and the rights of the Dima Bilan stage name belong to the StarPro agency. The singer retains the right to appeal within a month from the court decision.
Dima Bilan represented Russia in the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest, placing second after Finnish Lordi, and he is bidding again this year.
Very special thanks to Egle Jarasiunaite for her contribution to the article.
