Photographer Sues Minneapolis Studio Over Prince Photos

A man who photographed Prince during the late music superstar’s early years is suing a Minneapolis studio to recover about 3,000 original pictures.

Photo: Chris O’Meara/AP, file

Performing during halftime of Super Bowl XLI in Miami.

Allen Beaulieu’s federal lawsuit is against Studio 1124 and its owner, Clint Stockwell.

The lawsuit says Beaulieu photographed Prince as early as 1978. Some of his work was used on album covers and liner artwork for Dirty Mind, Controversy and 1999.

Beaulieu says he also shot behind-the-scenes photos while traveling with Prince.

Beaulieu says he owns the copyrights and only gave Stockwell pictures to scan to help produce a photo book. Beaulieu says Stockwell is refusing to return the photos and copies.

Prince died April 21 of a drug overdose.

Stockwell tells KSTP-TV there’s no copyright infringement. He says he’s been helping Beaulieu and hasn’t been paid.