Prince wants concert clips off the Web

LONDON, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. recording artist Prince has hired a firm to ensure unauthorized clips from his recent London concerts are wiped off the Internet.

The "Purple Rain" icon is also demanding the popular video-sharing Web sites YouTube and "Pirate Bay" remove whatever unlawful clips they have, in a move to "reclaim his art on the Internet," the BBC reported Thursday.

More than 1,000 clips have been taken down in the past few days, said Web Sheriff, the British firm Prince hired to enforce the ban.

The star is also targeting online shops such as eBay, which he said violate copyright laws by selling unauthorized merchandise.

"We are not targeting fans who might want to sell their copy of 'Purple Rain'; we are targeting companies in China manufacturing Prince handbags and selling them in their thousands," said John Giacobbi, Web Sheriff's managing director.

Prince has spent the summer playing 21 gigs at London's O2 arena. Although fans were prohibited from taking photographs or video footage, many have still posted Web clips.

"Prince feels very strongly that people should remember his concerts as they were, not as some grainy mobile phone footage," Giacobbi said.

The London concert series is scheduled to end next week.