Springsteen not involved in copyright suit

NEW YORK, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- A publicity firm representing Bruce Springsteen says the singer does not have an active role in a copyright lawsuit targeting a New York eatery chain.

Shore Fire Media said in a statement the royalty collection agency Ascap filed the lawsuit against Connolly's Pub and Restaurant without Springsteen's permission, so the singer's name should be removed from the litigation, The New York Daily News said Thursday.

"Ascap was solely responsible for naming Bruce Springsteen as a plaintiff in the lawsuit," the publicity firm said of the Manhattan Federal Court suit. "Bruce Springsteen had no knowledge of this lawsuit, was not asked if he would participate as a named plaintiff, and would not have agreed to do so if he had been asked."

Ascap alleges in the suit the eatery chain did not get permission to use two copyrighted Springsteen songs during a band's public performance at one of the chain's locations in August 2008, The New York Times reported.

An Ascap spokesman had no comment regarding the publicity firm's statement.