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Genghis Khan performing in their original formation in 1979
Photo: United Archives / kpa / Grimm / picture alliance / United Archives
Composer Ralph Siegel has won a lawsuit over the band Dschinghis Khan.
In a judgment that has now been published, the Munich Regional Court I awarded Siegel the trademark rights to the group, which is also internationally successful with hits such as "Dschinghis Khan" and "Moscow".
With this, Siegel prevailed against the lead singer who left the formation in a dispute in 2014, who made appearances himself after his departure with the name Dschinghis Khan.
The seal, known primarily through numerous participation in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), had started the group as a project in the most successful phase of its work, composed songs for it and put the band together.
In 1979 Dschinghis Khan finished fourth in the ESC final with the hit of the same name and had chart successes in Germany, but also in the Soviet Union, Japan and Israel.
The group had split up in 1985, but then started new projects in different compositions.
In 2014, the singer, now sued by Ralph Siegel, left the formation, but continued to perform under the title Dschinghis Khan.
Siegel was initially not bothered by the verdict until he revived the band project for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and rewrote the hit "Moscow" as a football song.
The original singer tried to prevent the new formation from appearing on German television, citing a word / figurative mark "Dschinghis Khan".
According to the judgment of the regional court, Siegel, as the authoritative producer and creator of the music project, is entitled to a company identification right.
The group's disbandments in the meantime would not have led to an expiry of the rights, because the group's CDs and other sound carriers were also resold afterwards.
Because of the peculiarities of the music industry, it cannot generally be assumed that any trademark rights will expire even if a band is dissolved.
hpi / dpa
