The estate of Michael Jackson is embroiled in a lawsuit with Las Vegas tribute act MJ Live after the show accused the late pop star’s lawyers of sending cease and desist letters.
The suit, filed by MJ Live on Wednesday in Nevada federal court, claims that the Jackson estate had unfairly issued legal threats regarding the show’s use of the late pop star’s likeness, per TMZ.
The King of Pop tribute act, which first hit the Vegas strip over a decade ago, asserts its legal right to continue its performances.
According to the lawsuit, the Jackson estate has recently initiated the sending of cease-and-desist letters to venues hosting the show, demanding the cancellation of upcoming tour dates.
A source told the outlet that the estate has only taken legal action against venue locations outside of Nevada – such as California and New York – because it views the tribute show as ‘low class’.
The estate of Michael Jackson is embroiled in a lawsuit with tribute act MJ Live after the show accused the late pop star’s lawyers of sending cease and desist letters; Jackson in 2005
The suit, filed by MJ Live (above) on Wednesday in Nevada federal court, claims that the Jackson estate had unfairly issued legal threats regarding the show’s use of the late pop star’s likeness
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Michael Jackson estate for comment.
MJ Live’s suit refers to the the cease-and-desist letters as ‘intentional and wrongful interference’ that was ‘intended to harm Plaintiff,’ per The Hollywood Reporter.
But the group takes it a step further, claiming that it’s the Jackson estate that’s messing with their intellectual property.
After using the MJ Live name for over a decade, MJ Live’s legal squad argues they’ve earned their own trademark rights to that name.
They claim the estate’s recent use of ‘MJ The Musical’ on Broadway is stepping on those rights.
‘Over the past eleven and one-half years…Plaintiff has spent millions of dollars advertising and promoting its MJ Live show,’ the suit claims, according to THR.
‘Plaintiff estimates that over 2,500,000 audience members, clapping and singing in their seats, jumping to their feet, and dancing in the aisles, have experienced the joy, excitement and thrill of MJ Live.’
Wednesday’s lawsuit from MJ Live is a ‘declaratory judgment action,’ showing they haven’t done anything wrong.
In their complaint, MJ Live’s legal team argues the group hasn’t stepped on any trademarks owned by the estate and hasn’t violated any likeness rights by doing their MJ impersonations.
The show features a Michael Jackson impersonator who leads fans through the late pop star’s greatest hits.
According to the lawsuit, the Jackson estate has recently initiated the sending of cease-and-desist letters to venues hosting the show, demanding the cancellation of upcoming tour dates, Jackson in 1996
A source told TMZ that the estate has only taken legal action against venue locations outside of Nevada — such as California and New York — because it views the tribute show as ‘low class’
After using the MJ Live name for over a decade, MJ Live’s legal squad argues they’ve earned their own trademark rights to that name; Jackson in 2005
Wednesday’s lawsuit from MJ Live is a ‘declaratory judgment action,’ showing they haven’t done anything wrong; LaToya Jackson, Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson pictured in 2004
The suit cites Nevada’s ‘likeness laws’ which allows for the use of a celebrity’s likeness by ‘impersonators in live performances,’ per the outlet.
‘This lawsuit – including the claim that this impersonator show somehow owns a ‘trademark’ in ‘MJ,’ a trademark owned by Michael Jackson’s Estate and long associated with Michael and his Estate – is beyond frivolous,’ Jackson estate attorney Jonathan Steinsapir said in a statement.
‘The Estate, as always, will vigorously defend all intellectual property rights of Michael Jackson.’
Jackson died on June 25, 2009, due to acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication.
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