Moana's name copyrighted in Germany

New Zealand singer Moana Maniapoto has had her name hijacked by a German lawyer.

Her latest CD, titled Moana, must be re-released in Germany under a different name after German company Media-XS copyrighted the name Moana and licensed it to a German trip-hop band, also called Moana.

Maniapoto's German agent, Renata De Sully, said from Munich last night the New Zealand singer was distraught to discover her name had been "bought" and she was not entitled to use it in Germany, where she is just starting a tour.

Ms De Sully said a German lawyer had copyrighted the name for use in "all sorts of things - from music, DVDs, videos, CDs down to toilet paper, believe it or not".

Inquiries had proved the German move was legal.