Federal judge rules businessman and website violated Michael Jackson copyrights
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – A federal judge has ruled that a website and businessman working with Michael Jackson’s mother has violated some of the singer’s copyrights and should be blocked from future uses of the works.
U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson sided with the singer’s estate in a ruling Friday against Howard Mann and the website www.michaeljacksonsecretvault.com
The estate sued Mann in January 2011, claiming he was violating copyrights and posed unfair competition to Jackson’s estate. Pregerson ruled that the website improperly used art from the film “This Is It,” a logo featuring Jackson and the song “Destiny,” as well as other material.
A phone message for Mann’s attorney was not immediately returned Friday. Mann has collaborated with Katherine Jackson, who is a beneficiary of the singer’s estate.
The ruling does not address damages.
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