Prince is facing legal action from U.S. literary agents amid allegations he cut them out of a publishing deal they negotiated for him.

The singer reportedly agreed to be represented by the unnamed agency to secure distribution for a book documenting his 21-date residency at London's O2 Arena in 2007.

According to the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday, Prince chose the company as his "exclusive agent with respect to the negotiations of a publishing deal" for the tome.

But Prince is accused of cutting off all contact with the agency during the final stages of the talks - and then going behind their backs to seal the deal.

Literary agents are seeking compensation for the 15 per cent commission they were due for setting up the deal, estimated at $200,000 (£137,930), reports TMZ.

(by Daniel Melia)