Over a year after filing a lawsuit against the Disney and ABC for copyright infringement, Micahel Jackson’s Estate has reached a confidential settlement with the network.
CREDIT: REX/SHUTTERSTOCK Via Variety
What’s happening:
- Variety is reporting that Michael Jackson’s Estate has reached a confidential settlement with Disney over a lawsuit filed in 2018.
- In the original filing, the estate sued Disney and ABC over a 2-hour television special The Last Days of Michael Jackson claiming copyright infringement.
- According to the lawsuit, the ABC program featured numerous songs and videos of the late pop star that belong to the estate including “Thriller,” and “Black or White,” as well as footage from the This Is It concert.
- Michael Jackson’s Estate claimed that Disney did not reach out to them for licensing or permission to use the selected material.
- Disney said they weren’t infringing on the estate owned properties claiming,” fair use under the Copyright Act, and the ability of news organizations to use limited excerpts of copyrighted works.”
- Variety says both sides filed notice on Wednesday saying they had reached a settlement.
What they’re saying:
- Howard Weitzman, attorney for the Jackson estate: “The dispute with Disney has been amicably resolved.”