A Michael Jackson tribute present in Las Vegas says the late singer’s property is making an attempt to close down their present … and now they’re duking it out in courtroom.
In response to new authorized docs, obtained by TMZ, the oldsters behind the “MJ Live” present on the Tropicana declare the Michael Jackson property lately started sending stop and desist letters threatening them with authorized motion over the present, claiming it is utilizing the property’s emblems with out permission.
Factor is … “MJ Live” claims they have been doing their factor for effectively over a decade — performing for over 2.5 million folks — and the property has solely lately began making authorized threats. In different phrases, they’re suggesting this got here out of nowhere … unjustly.
Within the docs, “MJ Live” says the act is happening the highway and Michael’s property is making an attempt to close down reveals scheduled at venues in California, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
In the meantime, the tribute present factors out the property is beginning up a tour of its new Broadway present, “MJ: The Musical” … suggesting the timing of the authorized beef could also be associated to the property making an attempt to money in with their very own MJ present.
They even go as far as to assert that the MJ property is definitely the one infringing on their very own mental property with “MJ: the Musical” … mainly arguing, they have been their first doing their very own factor — and that their model as “MJ Live” has established its personal repute/model.
Anyway, the “MJ Live” producers desire a choose to declare that the artwork they use to advertise their present would not infringe on the property’s emblems as a result of their paintings is distinct and causes no confusion to the general public.
A rep for MJ’s property instructed Billboard, “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. The Estate, as always, will vigorously defend all intellectual property rights of Michael Jackson.”
We have reached out to the Michael Jackson property ourselves … to date, no phrase again.
