Greek singer Anna Vissi has ruled out an out-of-court settlement with composer Nikos Karvelas following a dispute over concert permissions and monetary claims, her lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos announced on Greek television.
Speaking on the morning entertainment program Super Katerina on Alpha TV, Dimitrakopoulos clarified that Vissi intends to let the court system decide the dispute after Karvelas issued a press release indicating he would take legal action.
Anna Vissi is one of the most prominent pop vocalists in Greece and Cyprus, with a performing career spanning more than five decades. Nikos Karvelas is a leading Greek composer and lyricist who wrote many of Vissi's biggest hit songs over several decades, making their long-standing creative relationship one of the most celebrated in modern Greek popular music.
Financial demands and concert threat
According to Dimitrakopoulos, Karvelas raised a financial claim of 1.5 million euros against Vissi. The lawyer stated that the monetary demand lacks any legal basis and described it as a threat aimed at blocking an upcoming concert performance.
Dimitrakopoulos added that Karvelas threatened to withhold permission for the concert to go ahead unless the 1.5 million euros was paid. He emphasized that Karvelas was fully aware of all the circumstances surrounding the arrangement.
Dimitrakopoulos, a high-profile defense attorney based in Athens, confirmed that he has received explicit instructions from both Vissi and Greek businesswoman Dimitra Kousta not to pursue any out-of-court compromise with the composer.
Midnight letter written by Vissi
Addressing a written statement sent by Vissi, Dimitrakopoulos revealed that the document was composed entirely by the singer herself, without any intervention or assistance from any third party.
The lawyer said Vissi transmitted the text to him at 3:20 am. After reading the message, Dimitrakopoulos chose not to make any edits, describing it as exceptionally well-written and noting that it accurately represents her feelings, stance, and final decision.
Dimitrakopoulos explained that because Karvelas elected to publish a press release indicating a move toward litigation, Vissi's position is for him to proceed to court and allow the judicial system to reach a final ruling.
Copyright law and song rights
The attorney also addressed the intellectual property rights governing Karvelas's musical catalog. As the composer and lyricist, Karvelas holds the legal authority under copyright law to prohibit Vissi from performing his songs in public, a right Dimitrakopoulos acknowledged as an indisputable fact.
However, Dimitrakopoulos warned that exercising such a ban would result in significant financial harm for both parties. While Vissi would face operational and financial setbacks from losing access to the material, Karvelas would also suffer financial losses because he would no longer receive copyright royalties and percentage payouts generated by her live concerts.
If Karvelas decides to formally enforce a ban on Vissi performing his songs, the singer will immediately launch her own legal challenge in court, Dimitrakopoulos said.
