The Michael Jackson estate is objecting to an ABC TV special airing Thursday on the end of the life of the late King of Pop, calling it a crass attempt to exploit Jackson without respect for his legacy or children.
The estate said in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday that “The Last Days of Michael Jackson” is not sponsored or approved by Jackson’s heirs, and will most likely violate their intellectual property rights.
Advertising for the two-hour documentary set to air Thursday night says it will reveal new information on Jackson, and focuses on his apparent decline in the run-up to his death at age 50 on June 25, 2009.
“We believe the special to be another crass and unauthorized attempt to exploit the life, music and image of Michael Jackson without respect for Michael’s legacy, intellectual property rights or his children,” the estate’s statement says.
Representatives for ABC owner Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The estate said ABC was using a copyrighted silhouette and photo to promote the special, but stopped after demands from Jackson attorneys.
The estate said it understands the show other intellectual property without permission, including music, photos and artwork.
“It is particularly disheartening that Disney, a company known to strongly believe in protecting its own IP rights, would choose to ignore these rights belonging to the Estate,” the statement said.
But The Estate does NOTHING proper for keeping MJs legacy on tv, they do not fight for the rights for some archive records or videos, they do not want to spend money to restoration or digitalisation of his records, no behind the scenes docs, no Ghosts dvd set, no official tour dvd, almost every documentary is made by anybody else but not The Estate…, they even underestimated the value of Michaels property…
I was ‘thrilled’ when I read the statement, if I can use that word about something potentially as negative or upsetting as another unauthorised doco about Michael that will probably distort the truth without regard for who gets hurt. The Estate is right on point with this one, in particularly the words ‘without respect for Michael’s legacy…or his children” and, we would add, those who love him all over the world. (Although we, in the eyes of the media, are just a multitude to be taken advantage of because of our undying curiosity about Michael). Am shocked at the Disney company. Bravo to whomever at the estate wrote / authorised / released that Statement. Someone at work this morning actually asked me if I’d heard about it… so word HAS reached the masses that we are not happy. Of course, that just makes people more curious to watch such a show… so we don’t win. But at least we can, and do speak up.