MJ Live, a Michael Jackson tribute act performing in Las Vegas, has filed a complaint requesting a Nevada federal court rule that they can continue their concerts. The group alleges that the Jackson estate has recently begun threatening to sue the impersonators, demanding that other venues cancel forthcoming shows. MJ Live’s lawyers claim that the estate’s actions are “intentional and wrongful interference” and are “intended to harm Plaintiff.”
MJ Live argues that they have the legal right under Nevada’s state likeness laws to impersonate Jackson. This position has been strengthened by the group’s claim that they have developed their own trademark rights due to performing under the MJ Live name for over a decade. They allege that the Jackson estate has instead infringed their intellectual property, with their use of ‘MJ The Musical’ recently cited as an example of such an infringement. Nevada allows impersonators to use a celebrity’s likeness in live performances, thanks to Las Vegas’ long tradition of impersonators of artists such as Elvis Presley.
The group’s lawyers also claim that MJ Live has spent millions of dollars promoting its show and has had over 2.5 million audience members over the past 11 and a half years. MJ Live performs six nights a week at the Tropicana and has taken to the stage over 3,600 times since 2012. However, the Jackson estate has vowed to “vigorously defend all intellectual property rights of Michael Jackson.”
While the court case is resolved, Michael Jackson fans can look forward to his biopic. Further details about the project are expected to emerge in the months ahead
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