The creators of The Beatles tribute show Rain have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the producers of new Broadway musical Let It Be.

Jeff Parry and bosses at Annerin Productions have been named in the suit filed last month (Jun13) by executives Rain Corporation, who are seeking a writing credit for their production company and 50 per cent of the show's revenue over allegations musical arrangements and artwork were borrowed from the popular tribute concert for the project.

Despite the pending litigation, Let It Be is due to open at the St. James Theater in New York next week (24Jul13), two years after Rain wrapped up its own nine-month Broadway run, and a lawyer for the defendants, Peter S. Cane, insists the copyright claims are outrageous.

He tells the New York Times, "How do you monopolise the ability to present an impersonation of the Beatles? How many different ways can you really do it? The Beatles acted a certain way, they played certain notes, they spoke a certain way."