Michael Jackson Photo Shoot Documentary Faces Legal Trouble
According to reports, a new documentary about Michael Jackson has run into legal complications.
The documentary, which covers Michael Jackson's final photo sessions in 2007 for Vogue and Ebony magazines, has become entangled in a dispute between the production company and the King of Pop's Estate, with each side claiming ownership of the footage and images captured of Michael during that period.
The company Nowell Williams has filed a lawsuit claiming it holds legal rights to use and distribute the footage. Williams says that in 2011, the company that originally filmed the footage offered the Estate the opportunity to purchase it. At that time, the asking price was $1.25 million, and the Estate declined — and according to Williams, never claimed ownership of the footage. Williams further asserts that in 2013, he legally acquired the footage with the intention of producing the documentary. When an agreement was recently reached to broadcast the documentary on a Brazilian television network, the Estate asserted a claim of ownership over the footage.
For his part, Howard Weitzman, attorney for the Michael Jackson Estate, believes the footage belongs to the Estate.
Weitzman stated: "The makers of this documentary are attempting to exploit Michael Jackson's footage and images. We believe this footage belongs to the Estate. This documentary contains footage of Michael Jackson's private moments — moments he never consented to have used publicly, commercially, or without his personal approval and involvement. Michael never authorized the use of this footage in a film."
Source: eMJey.com / The Hollywood Reporter
According to reports, a new documentary about Michael Jackson has run into legal complications.
The documentary, which covers Michael Jackson's final photo sessions in 2007 for Vogue and Ebony magazines, has become entangled in a dispute between the production company and the King of Pop's Estate, with each side claiming ownership of the footage and images captured of Michael during that period.
The company Nowell Williams has filed a lawsuit claiming it holds legal rights to use and distribute the footage. Williams says that in 2011, the company that originally filmed the footage offered the Estate the opportunity to purchase it. At that time, the asking price was $1.25 million, and the Estate declined — and according to Williams, never claimed ownership of the footage. Williams further asserts that in 2013, he legally acquired the footage with the intention of producing the documentary. When an agreement was recently reached to broadcast the documentary on a Brazilian television network, the Estate asserted a claim of ownership over the footage.
For his part, Howard Weitzman, attorney for the Michael Jackson Estate, believes the footage belongs to the Estate.
Weitzman stated: "The makers of this documentary are attempting to exploit Michael Jackson's footage and images. We believe this footage belongs to the Estate. This documentary contains footage of Michael Jackson's private moments — moments he never consented to have used publicly, commercially, or without his personal approval and involvement. Michael never authorized the use of this footage in a film."
Source: eMJey.com / The Hollywood Reporter