Documents here
http://tmz.vo.llnwd.net/o28/newsdesk/tmz_documents/0120_jackson.pdf
Summary
- Estate is suing Howard Mann, Sonia Lowe (editor of the book and the website) , Vintage Pop Media (and several of it's sister corporations all owned by and connected to Howard Mann) and unknown does (such as affiliates, employees, agents, partner, representative, aider, abettor, co-conspirator, alter-egos)
- In short Estate didn't give them any permissions and any licences to use Michael's name or likeliness.
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Website is mentioned as the place that sells all the copyright infringed items.
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This is it artwork, trailer etc is used on the website. (vault videos and main site design)
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The book:
--- 5 copyrighted hand drawn sketches of MJ are included in the book.
--- The book has "Special thanks to Estate of Michael Jackson" suggesting that this was approved by the Estate - which the Estate denies and calls it false endorsement
--- Howard Mann made a statement saying that "less than 48 hours they sold 25,000 copies" if truthful it means $1.5M in first 2 days only.
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Lithographic collection event
--- used an unauthorized picture of MJ in their promotions
--- as we heard before some of the profits will go to the fake "Heal the World" - Estate says tries to create association between the Estate and the event and as well as Estate and Heal the world foundation.
--- Estate says despite their cease and desist and request to clearly say that 'MJ Estate wasn't in any way involved with this event', Mann didn't make any changes and continued to promote the event.
- Estate's legal claims
--- This is it copyright was infringed - by the pictures and videos
--- Opis None is a remix of "Destiny" which is released by Sony in 1978. As the song is still present in the website (with unauthorized MJ picture) this is again a copyright infringement. (Sony music authorized Estate to bring copyright claims.)
--- Content from 25th Anniversary DVD and CD of Thriller is presented on the website - another copyright infringement.
--- The book has "Bubbles Chair", "Key III", "Boy", "Happy Gate", "We the people" drawings - again copyright infringement.
--- Vintage Pop Media logo contains "Smooth Criminal Lean" on the left arm of "V". Again infringement. Also misleads public to believe that the items sold are associated/ allowed by MJ / Estate. Estate also wants Vintage Pop Media to remove the "Smooth Criminal Lean" from their corporate logo.
--- The "Special Thanks to the Estate of Michael Jackson" note on the book is deceiving people to believe that the book is affiliated/ authorized by the Estate. Estate makes a false endorsement claim for this.
--- The domain names "jacksonsecretvault.com" , "michaeljacksonsecretvault.com", "mjgives.com" and "mjduets.com" has MJ's name, can deceive people to believe that estate is behind these domain names so Estate is making cyber squatting and cyber piracy claim and want the domains to be transfered to the Estate.
--- Misappropriation of likeliness claim for VPM logo (SC lean), MJ name/image/likeliness use throughout the website, MJ name/image/likeliness use for promotion of the book /products /lithograph collection
--- Unfair competition.
- Furthermore Estate wants the court to come to a decision (make declaration) about who owns what rights in regards to the items in the possession of Mann. (Such as "X have the rights to this and they can do this and that")
- Estate lists in a detailed format that they want the profits, punitive damages awarded by the court, legal costs, and injunction for the further and future activities.
