Michael Jackson Estate Lambasts New Documentary

The Michael Jackson Estate is furious with ABC, which is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, for making a two-hour documentary on Michael Jackson without their authorisation. It aired on ABC on 24 May.
The conflict is a fascinating one for documentary makers everywhere. Clearly Disney will totally reject the idea that only documentaries approved by the estate of a music legend should ever be made – and the majority of film-makers would share that view.
"We want consumers to know that The Last Days of Michael Jackson, a television special airing on ABC TV is not sponsored or approved by the Estate of Michael Jackson," the Jackson estate said in a statement.
"It is particularly disheartening that Disney, a company known to strongly believe in protecting its own IP rights, would choose to ignore these rights belonging to the Estate."
They added: "We are told ABC intends to use music and other intellectual property owned by the Estate such as photos, logos, artwork, and more in the program itself, without having licensed the rights to any such material.
"Imagine if this was done with any of ABC's intellectual property. We believe the special to be another crass and unauthorized attempt to exploit the life, music and image of Michael Jackson without respect for Michael’s legacy, intellectual property rights or his children."
But ABC has issued a statement defending its right to make the documentary entitled 'The Last Days of Michael Jackson'.
The statement reads: "ABC News’ documentary explores the life, career and legacy of Michael Jackson, who remains of great interest to people worldwide. The program does not infringe on his estate’s rights, but as a courtesy, we removed a specific image from the promotional material.”