ABC premiered it's special The Last Days of Michael Jackson last week and now the famed musician's estate is going after the network and Disney for copyright infringement. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the two-hour special wrongfully used Michael's songs, music videos and movies. Content for "Billie Jean," "Bad," and videos including "Thriller," "Black or White" and more were not properly attained by the network.
The publication cites a total of 30 infringements and is seeking an unspecified amount fo damages.
“Disney’s conduct here was particularly surprising given that it has no tolerance for anyone using its copyrighted material in even the most trivial of manners,” a statement provided to Complex reads. “Can you imagine using Disney’s intellectual property—like Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, Star Wars, The Avengers, Toy Story, and so many other works—without asking Disney’s permission or getting a license? The Estate has no choice but to vigorously protect its intellectual property, which is the lifeblood of its business."
Apparently warning letters were sent to Disney (as we previously posted), but still, they continued to go forward with the show that detailed Michael's life up until his tragic death on June 25, 2009.