Michael Jackson Estate in Copyright Case Victory; Injunction Stops Mother From Trading in His Name
Michael Jackson's estate has won a copyright case after a judge barred the pop star's mother and one of her business partners from profiting from a line of merchandise using his name separate from his estate.
U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson granted summary judgment to the executors of Jackson's estate, issuing a permanent injunction against Canadian entrepreneur Howard Mann from using the pop star's name in trading.
In a 15 page ruling the judge stated: "There is undisputed evidence that Defendants intended in bad faith to profit from use of Jackson's name, by registering multiple domain names containing his name or the initials 'MJ' to sell Jackson-related products."
Mann, with the permission of Katherine Jackson, had previously created a coffee table book and calendar featuring Michael Jackson's name without the estate's authorization. The executors of Michael's estate, John Branca and John McClain, protested but were asked by Katherine to leave Mann alone. However, they commenced legal proceedings against Mann, and gained a summary judgment ruling on Friday.
The estate's executors released a statement through a spokesperson saying they were "extremely pleased with the court's ruling." The statement added that Michael Jackson's intellectual property is "owned by the late singer's estate for the benefit of his children and mother."
Over recent weeks the Jackson family have been in uproar, with various members of Michael's family allegedly claiming that the executors are exercising power from his estate through a fraudulent will. The executors have rebuked those claims as "Internet conspiracy theories," and further highlighted that the court overseeing the settling of Michael Jackson's estate had accepted the will's authenticity.
