Taylor Duepree has claimed the artwork for U2's new album, 'No Line On The Horizon', is an “exact rip-off” of one of his album covers.

U2's album, which is released in March, and Duepree's 2006 LP, 'Specification. Fifteen', both feature an image by the Japanese artist Hiroshi Sugimoto.

In a blog on 12kblog, the American musician said the Irish band should have done “some research” before unveiling the cover.

Duepree said the cover on his 2006 album had been created “directly in conjunction” with the artist's retrospective at the Hirshhorn museum in Washington DC.

He wrote: “So.. before you let people run off about how 'cool' the new U2 cover is.. show them ours first…”

Despite the similarities between the two covers, Duepree said he had no plans on making it a "legal issue".

U2's 'No Line On The Horizon' is released in the UK on March 2nd.

(by Jason Gregory)