Michael Jackson Estate Threatens to Sue ‘MJ Live’ Over Tour — But Vegas Tribute Act Fights Back
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Las Vegas’ MJ Live is suing the estate of Michael Jackson after the Jackson estate attorneys threatened to sue the act for violating trademark.
In a complaint filed Jan. 17, the org behind MJ Live asked a judge to allow the show, which features an impersonator of Jackson, to continue at the Tropicana and other cities in the U.S. It also accused the Jackson Estate of infringing its intellectual property, according to Billboard.
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In the lawsuit, the show claims that it has staged more than 3,600 shows since 2012 but that the estate only recently started to send cease-and-desist letters to venues asking that they cancel MJ Live’s upcoming tour dates.
In a statement to Rolling Stone on Jan. 23, however, the Jackson Estate said that they are not attempting to shut down MJ Live in Nevada, but “stop it from going beyond the Nevada borders as it would be confusing to consumers and not of the quality we would authorize.”
“This lawsuit, including the claim that this impersonator show somehow owns a ‘trademark’ in ‘MJ,’ a trademark owned by Michael Jackson’s Estate and long associated with Michael and his Estate is beyond frivolous,” Jonathan Steinsapir, attorney for the Jackson Estate, told Rolling Stone. “The Estate, as always, will vigorously defend all intellectual property rights of Michael Jackson.”
In their original lawsuit, MJ Live’s attorneys claim they have not infringed on any trademarks nor likeness rights, referencing both free speech protections in the First Amendment and Nevada’s likeness laws that allow for the legal use of impersonators in live performances.
The MJ Live group further argued that the Jackson estate infringed on its intellectual property, by naming their Broadway show MJ The Musical. It also argued that the cease-and-desist letters to block dates as “intentional and wrongful interference” in his business.
The Broadway jukebox musical began in 2022 to critical acclaim. “You’ll leave the Neil Simon Theatre both on a giddy high from Jackson’s music but also grappling with what was and wasn’t incorporated,” read a Rolling Stone review of its opening night.
The MJ Live did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.
This story was updated on Jan. 23 at 7:25 p.m. to include a statement from the Michael Jackson Estate.
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