Jackson estate sues Heal the World
Michael Jackson’s estate filed a suit in federal court against Heal the World Foundation Tuesday accusing the organization of cybersquatting, trademark infringement and using the superstar’s name and likeness without permission in a bid to trick fans into thinking they are making donations to a Jackson-sanctioned cause.
According to the suit filed in Los Angeles by special administrators for the Jackson estate John McClain and John Branca, the defendants have registered for six trademarks and applied for 41additional ones. Those applications, the suit alleges, “uniquely and unmistakably point to Mr. Jackson and his persona” and are intended “to cause confusion, mistake and to deceive.”
Jackson established his own Heal the World Foundation in 1992, naming it after his iconic hit song “Heal the World.” But that charitable organization has no relation to the defendants and ceased to function before the entertainer’s death. The suit alleges that Heal the World cybersquatted by establishing such deliberately misleading domain names as “mjaid.net,” “mjquotes.net” and “healtheworldfoundation.net.”
-- Chris Lee
Photo credit: Associated Press
Two thumbs up for John McClain and John Branca! You guys are doing a great job as Michael Jackson's estate administrators. Keep up the good work on busting these opportunists. Please go after Rabbi Shmuley next for publicizing tapes of private conversations between Michael and him during counselling sessions.
Posted by: Natalie | September 30, 2009 at 12:44 AM
Yes, pleeeeeze, go after the despicable "Rabbi" Shmucky Lowleech! If Michael approved those tapes for public consumption (highly unlikely), then the Estate ought to get half the proceeds with Michael as co-author of Lowleech's unseemly book. In the meantime, I'll just lob another truth bomb into Shmucky's inbox on his website. http://www.shmuley.com/site/contact
Dear Rabbi Shmucky ~
Is there no end (Larry King Live) to your sanctimonious judgment about a person on whose ass you wouldn't make a decent patch?!
"Tragic" indeed. What's NOT tragic is how you are now universally reviled and despised due to your theft of both Michael's charity's money and now Michael's privacy!
You hypocrite! How DARE you appoint yourself judge and jury of the soul of Michael Jackson! "Threw away his life?" Surely you jest! The man brought more joy to others in the first 10 years of his CHILDHOOD than you will for the rest of your miserable life!
You need to get down on your knees and thank your Maker that you even MET such a loving, kind, generous, spiritual and talented person who—yes!—affected people in their affliction. You didn't DESERVE to know him, let alone know him as deeply as you claim. Michael, darling, you cast your pearls before swine!
Well, seeya, Shmucky. Gotta get back to dissing your scummy book on every blog, discussion board and chat room I can find. Hard work, but somebody's gotta do it.
[signed]
Posted by: SoCalGal | September 30, 2009 at 08:21 PM
Are they really guilty or not? Enter AllRise.com community court to see what the people think http://bit.ly/AllRise262222
Posted by: allrise | October 04, 2009 at 06:03 AM