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Pantone creates shade of purple named for Prince symbol

This image provided by the Pantone Color Institute shows "Love Symbol #2," that the institute and the estate of the late music superstar Prince announced as a new shade of purple Monday, named for his famous love symbol. He used the symbol as his name from 1993 to 2000 in a dispute with his record label, Warner Bros. Records. Prince also made the color his signature after his 80s hit Purple Rain. (FBurrafato / Pantone Color Institute)
Associated Press

NEW YORK – A shade of purple inspired by the late superstar Prince and his custom-made Yamaha piano was announced Monday by the icon’s estate.

The royal hue created by the Pantone Color Institute was dubbed “Love Symbol #2,” paying tribute to the graphic Prince began using as his name in 1993 in a testy battle with Warner Bros. Records over ownership of the master recordings of some of his biggest hits. He switched back to Prince in 2000 after his Warner Bros. contract expired.

Prince also used the symbol on the cover of a 1992 album before he took it as a name and it was his signature early on after release of his hit “Purple Rain.”

Prince died in April 2016 at age 57 of an opioid overdose, according to authorities.