Thomas Brussig Wins €5 Million in Udo Lindenberg Musical Lawsuit

After a decade-long legal battle, the court rules Brussig deserves additional compensation for his libretto work.

Thomas Brussig, author of the libretto for the Udo Lindenberg musical 'Hinterm Horizont,' has been awarded over €5 million in additional compensation.
The Hamburg Landgericht ruled in favor of Brussig, citing a significant disparity between his initial €100,000 payment and the revenues generated by the musical.
Stage Entertainment, the company behind the musical, has appealed the decision, arguing that they did not make a profit from the production.
The court's decision is based on a copyright principle that mandates fair compensation when revenues far exceed initial payments.
Brussig expressed relief at the verdict, which also acknowledged his sole authorship despite claims that he lacked creative freedom.