Apparently, some individuals don’t want this present to go on! Those behind a tribute act to Michael Jackson in Las Vegas claimed the late singer’s property has been making an attempt to cancel their present — so that they’re taking them to courtroom to battle it out now!
According to authorized paperwork obtained by TMZ on Friday, the organizers of MJ Live on the Tropicana alleged the Michael Jackson property just lately began unjustly sending stop and desist letters, threatening to sue them over the present. The property additional accused them of utilizing logos with out permission. But right here’s the factor — MJ Live have been performing the act for greater than a decade! So why has the property solely been making authorized threats just lately? MJ Live steered within the swimsuit that the problems got here out of nowhere… type of.
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The paperwork acknowledged that the act was heading out on tour quickly, and the property tried to close down the exhibits scheduled at venues in California, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Here’s the kicker. The tribute act famous that the property can also be starting a tour of its new Broadway present, MJ: The Musical! Hmm. The timing of the authorized threats and the excursions are suspicious! Now MJ Live feels the one cause the property has a problem with them impulsively is as a result of they wish to money in with their very own Michael Jackson present — and don’t need any competitors.
Then the tribute present went on to make a daring accusation! They accused the property of being the one to infringe on their very own mental property with MJ: the Musical! Since MJ Live has been round for over a decade, per Billboard, their attorneys argued that the group has its personal established model and personal trademark rights to the identify. Therefore, the property’s current use of MJ: The Musical on Broadway infringed on these rights. The attorneys acknowledged:
“Over the past eleven and one-half years … plaintiff has spent millions of dollars advertising and promoting its MJ Live show. 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.”
Now the producers of MJ Live need a choose to declare the artwork used to advertise the present doesn’t infringe on the property’s logos. They additionally need permission to proceed their concert events on the Tropicana and different venues across the nation. Whoa! A rep for Michael Jackson’s property fired again on the lawsuit in an announcement to TMZ, saying:
“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.”
They appear ready to combat again on the claims made by MJ Live! Oof! As for why the property hasn’t tried to shutdown MJ Live over the previous ten years? Sources with direct data defined to the outlet that Nevada has legal guidelines defending impersonator exhibits. But now they’re making an attempt to convey the present to different states, the property determined to take motion since they really feel the present is “low class.” Damn!
Thoughts on the lawsuit, Perezcious readers? Sound OFF within the feedback under!
[Image via Chris Connor/WENN]
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