Jackson launches footage gag case against TV chiefs
Singer Michael Jackson has issued legal proceedings against Granada television over its behind-the-scenes documentary about the star.
The High Court in London is expected to consider Jackson’s case against the programme, Living With Michael Jackson, on Friday. The programme featured interviews with journalist Martin Bashir and revealed the superstar had shared a bed with children.
After the programme aired on ITV1, Jackson lodged a complaint with broadcasting authorities and accused Bashir of “betrayal”.
The singer’s own production company then released footage of the Bashir interviews in which the interviewer praised the way Jackson treated children.
Jackson and his company MJJ Productions Inc are seeking an injunction against Granada so that it cannot use unseen footage “in any way” until wider disputes are settled.
A statement issued last night by Jackson said: “The injunction application, which is filed on behalf of Michael Jackson and MJJ Productions, seeks, amongst other things, to place all unseen footage held by Granada ’in escrow’, so that it may not be used in any way, until the wider dispute between Jackson and Granada – over whether Martin Bashir breached the terms on which he was permitted to film Jackson and the rights to the film – have been resolved.”
The statement continued: “Consistently Michael Jackson has argued that Martin Bashir and Granada broke the agreement by which he was permitted to film Michael, concerning ownership of the filmed material and permissions relating to the inclusion of the Jackson children.
“In particular, Granada has failed to honour an agreement reached earlier this month to deliver up to Michael Jackson unused film footage of his children, where recognisable.”
Jackson’s lawyers have alleged that, to date, Granada has refused requests from them that the disputed footage should be placed in the care of a third party, until legal questions have been determined.
These proceedings are in addition to the official complaints already lodged with the Broadcasting Standards Commission on behalf of both Michael Jackson and Janet Ventura-Arvizo, who is the mother of a child who appeared in the programme.
A Granada spokesman said: “Michael Jackson’s London lawyers told us they have issued proceedings against Granada.
“They relate to attempts by Michael to claim copyright in our footage. We shall be resisting such claims vigorously.”
