Unreleased Songs - Updates

I have reported about some new MJ songs weeks before that has been recently leaked to the internet.

Below I have collected the still unreleased song names that I know of, as well added some new titles. These songs can be expected to release soon.

[NEW] Burn 2 Nite (Created in 2007 with Edward Cascio)
[NEW] Keep Your Head Up (Created in 2007 with Edward Cascio)
For The World (Created in 2009 with Theron Femster)
Beatbox 2010 (Created in 2009 with Michael Durham)
Shut Up And Dance (Created in 2009 with Michael Durham)
If You've Got It, Bring It (Video material)
A Place With No Name (Created in 2008 with Dr. Freeze)
All In Your Name (Created in 2003 with Barry Gibb)
I Was The Loser (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Adore You (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Boy No (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Changes (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Days In Gloucestershire (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Don't Be Messin' (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
I Am A Loser (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Innocent Man (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Jungle (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Just Remember (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Light The Way (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Neverland Landing (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Pray For Peace (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Rocker (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Thank Heaven (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
World Of Candy (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
11pm (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Bottom Of My Heart (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Butter Funk (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Children's Hour (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Green Hornet Groove (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
I Love You More (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
King Tutankhamun (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Lovin You (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Pajamas (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Photographs (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Photographs 2 (Instrumental) (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Pray For Peace (Instrumental) (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Shut Up And Dance (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
That (Instrumental) (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Think Twice (Instrumental) (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Walk Away (Instrumental) (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
You Are There (Instrumental) (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
MJ / BB Orchestral Idea #1. (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
MJ / BB Orchestral Idea #3. (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
MJ / BB Orchestral Idea #2. (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Brad Loop 3700 (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Brad Loop 3.3.7 MJ (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Michael's Affirmation (Instrumental) (Created in 2008-2009 with Bradley Buxler and Michar Durham)
Doing Dirty (Created in Victory era)
Man In Black (Created in Dangerous era)
Verdict (Created in Dangerous era)
Remember This Night (Created in Thriller era)
She Got It (Created in Dangerous era)
Seven Digits (Created in Dangerous era)
Who Do You Know (Created in Thriller era)
Michaelmania
Pressure (Created in Dangerous era)
Just Feel It (Created in Victory era)
The Pain (Created in Invinclible era)
The World Is No Church (Created in Invincible era)
Seduction (Created in Invincible era)

Business Entities - Updates

I have found many websites using my list of the business entities controlled by the Michael Jackson Estate. Below you may see an updated overview of these active companies controlled by the MJ Estate.

MJ's intellectual properties are well controlled but divided into too many companies.

100% ownership:
The Michael Jackson Company LLC (Active in Delaware; Owns some intellectual property since 2006)
MJJ Productions Inc. (Active both in Delaware and California; Owns some intellectual property since 1979; MJ's production company between 1979-2006)
MJJ Ventures (Active in California; Owns some intellectual property related to short films since 1991)
Optimum productions Inc. (Active in California; Owns intellectual property related to short films since 1983)
MJJ Artistic Inc. (Active in California; Owns some intellectual property since 1990)
Nation Comics Inc. (Active in California; Owns some intellectial property since 1991)
Invincible Tours Inc. (Active in California; Controlled MJ's planned 2002 tour since 2001)
Triumph International Inc. (Active in Delaware and California; Owns most of the intellectual property related to MJ since 1982)
Triumph Multimedia Inc. (Active in California; Owns some intellectual property since 1993)
MJ-ATV Publishing Trust (Active in Delaware; Controls MJ's part in Sony/ATV since 1999)
MJ Publishing LLC (Active in Delaware; Controls MJ's own music catalog and master recordings since 1998, aka. MiJac Music)
New Horizon Trust I. II. and III. (Active in Delaware; Holds publishing rights against debts)
Go For Your Dream Foundation (Active in California; Controls MJ's previous foundation since 2003)

50% partnerships:
SEE Virtual World MJ LLC (Active in California; Controls the joint venture on PlanetMichael.com project since 2009)
SEE Virtual World MJ Operations LLC (Active in California; Controls the joint venture on PlanetMichael.com project since 2010)
Cirque Jackson I.P. LLC (Active in Delaware; Controls the joint venture with Cirque De Soleil on the MJ shows since 2010)
Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC (Active in Delaware and California; Controls the joint venture with Sony since 1995)
Sycamore Valley Ranch Company LLC (Active in California; Controls MJ's Neverland Ranch with Colony Capital since 2008)
MJJ Records LLC (Active in Delaware and California; Owns master records and intellectual property to MJ's MJJ Music label recordings with Sony)
World Events LLC (Active in Delaware; Owns intellectual property to the 2001 MJ concerts with David Gest)
MJ Licensing LLC (Active in Delaware; Owns some intellectual property in Europe since 2003 with Dieter Wiesner)

Questionable companies:
MJJ Kingdom LLC (Active in Delaware and California; It's profile is unknown, created in the Tohme Tohme era in 2008)
Jackson International LLC (Active in California; MJ's previous investment company since 1998, it's function is unknown)

Legal Cases - Updates

Without any doubts the biggest challenge for the Michael Jackson Estate in legal terms is the Howard Mann and Melissa Johnson duo, and keeping MJ's trademarks, copyrights and legacy controlled. If these individuals will be able to avoid any punishment, then they will be free to sell off MJ's name for whatever reasons, but most importantly: in the same cheap and amateur way they did in the past.

Othe cases includes mostly debates over money issues and some lunatics.

The MJ Estate has the following known legal cases:

- The Michael Jackson Estate on probate court:
On March 15, 2011 the court will hold a hearing regarding the sale of a real property (this might be related to Alejandra Jackson's removal from the Hayvenhurst property). No other important hearings.
No updated information on the creditor claims.

- Michael Jackson Estate vs. Melissa Johnson: No updates in the case since my last report. Johnson has been denied to use any of the MJ trademarks, while Howard Mann has been deposited on February 16, 2011.

- Michael Jackson Estate vs. Howard Mann: No updates in the case since my last report.

- John Landis vs. Michael Jackson: Landis sued MJ on unpaid royalty fees. The case will go on trial this October.

- Ola Ray vs. Michael Jackson: Similarly to Landis Ray is suing for unpaid royalty fees as well. The case will go on trial this November.

- Nederlander Presentation vs. Michael Jackson: Nederlander sued MJ due to a failed musical that the star agreed on. The case will go on trial this November.

- Seven Echols vs. Michael Jackson Estate: Echol claims that he hasn't been paid for his services rendered to MJ. The case will go on trial this June.

- First Commemorative Mint Inc. vs. Triumph International Inc.: No important updates in the case since my last update.

- AllGood Entertainment vs. Michael Jackson: AGE filed for an appeal on September 17, 2010, but they missed a deadline to file the required papers until January 28, 2011. If they won't send the papers until March 8, 2011 the case will be dismissed. AGE sued MJ due to a failed concert that neither MJ or any of his representatives agreed to.

- Jose Freddie Vallejos vs. Michael Jackson Estate: The MJ Estate has been sued along with the city of Los Angeles due to the high costs of MJ's funeral in the summer of 2009. Some of the parties might be dismissed this March.

- Richard Lapointe vs. Julien Entertainment: The MJ Estate is a defendant in the case. Lapointe is suing them for a failed auction where he bought some MJ related merchandises. The case will go on trial this March.

- Bravado International Group Merchandising: The company that bought the licenses to sell MJ related merchandises still have plenty of ongoing cases due to copyright infrigment on the MJ trademarks.

- MJ Publishing Trust: MJP is taking part in plenty of suits along with BMI due to copyright infrigments on MJ's music.

- Citadel Ltd. vs. Frank DiLeo: DiLeo has been sued over a failed MJ concert in Tobago. Neither any of the defendants answered the case so the Judge ruled a default entry against DiLeo and his partners. It means that they will have to pay at least $300.000 to this company. MJ has nothing to do with this case.

New Case Over MJ Photos

A new case has been filed in Las Vegas over several MJ images taken by Kyle Arbuckle. And allegedly stolen by another news outlet.

The famous pictures has been taken on January 28, 2008 in the Luxor Hotel at Las Vegas. Arbuckle claims that he has been misleaded by a reporter from Splash News, who watermarked and distributed the photos by not paying Arbuckle.

Arbuckle wants to get $150.000 from Splash.

Behind the Scenes of the New MJ Game

Here you can find pictures and videos of the making of "The Michael Jackson Experience" game from UbiSoft:

http://www.kanangart.com

Interviews, dance lessons and more...

MJ Merchandise from Zara

I just found a website claiming that Triumph International Inc. granted rights to Zara through Bravado to sell MJ merchandise.

Some screenshots can be found here:

Tidbit

Did you know that MJJ Productions Inc is a founder member of MusiCares, the Grammy organisation's foundation?

MJJP supported the foundation with $50.000 in 2009.

Interview with Henry Vaccaro

After years of blogging about him, I got the chance to make an interview with Henry Vaccaro, the former owner of the biggest Jackson Family memorablia. A story from the man who's life was hardly affected by the Jackson's and the collection.

Below you may read the whole material (leave your comments to Mr. Vaccaro by clicking on the Comments link under):


Q: As it's well known amongst the fans you get ahold of the Jackson Family memorablia on a bankrupcy court, as a result of a failed business venture with the family. What was your first feeling when you realised that you own the biggest Jackson Family memorablia on the world?
A: I was totally shocked when we started unpacking two 65 feet trailers of memorabilia. It took several months to unpack and catalog, I was amazed at the amount of very personal items that the Jackson's had stored in that warehouse. In fact I felt that I violated this family. Some of the items included bank account deposit books, personal letters, legal documents, divorce papers, birth certificates, school records, personal family photos, etc. No one including me should have another family's very personal property. I never wanted this property only my money. I lost the Kramer Guitar Co. which in 1988 was the most popular guitar in the US with sales of $18 million dollars as the Jackson's defaulted on the purchase contract. I personally flew to California to met Tito where I offered to give everything back. I suggested we all go on a TV show make up with his family, and I would give everything back for nothing, I would in turn get my money from the sponsor. His lawyer refused.

Q: What were your initial plans with the memorablia? And what could you realise over the years?
A: My initial plans were to sell the collection in its entirety as I felt it would bring the most money. At first I thought it was worth several million dollars but only got bogus offers.

Q: Is it close to the truth that you didn't do much with the items over the years from a business point of view?
A: After not being able to get real offers, as you may recall Michael's value was at it's lowest in those years because of his legal problems, I then decided to do a Pay Per View web site displaying the collection. In 2005 Michael sued me, my son, Vintage Pop, and MichaelJacksonSecretVault.com for One Hundred Million Dollars, hired a high power law firm and shut down the web site. I won the suite as it was dismissed with prejudice.

Q: According to the media reports you have added some more Michael Jackson items to the collection in 2007 bought on a Las Vegas auction. What was your motivation with that move?
A: Not true, I sold the entire collection to a public corporation, called Universal Express they held the Las Vegas auction which I attended when I saw the bid's so low on what I knew were very valuable items I bought some back. The problem is the owner of Universal Express turned out to be a con artist, and was thrown in jail by the Security Exchange Commission. The SEC appointed a Receiver and Universal Express was liquidated. I was never paid. I filled suit against the Auction House, Universal Express, and the Receiver. A settlement was reached the terms of which can not be disclosed by court order. However I was allowed to recover all the unsold items.

Q: Did you buy or add other items to the collection over the years?
A: No.

Q: As the media reported you are on court with a man named Benson Hopp, because he and his partners stoled some items from the collection. Could you get back those items? Did any memorablia disappear over the years?
A: Some of the item that I was to get back were stored in a warehouse in Las Vegas these were the unsold auction items. When I went to the warehouse over 116 items of Michael's were stolen and sold to Benson Hopp who in turn consigned them to Heritage Auction Co. We put Heritage on notice that the items were stolen we are now in court in Dallas, I believe that all items will be returned to me. I am sure many items have disappeared over the years.

Q: What was the most serious and the weirdest offer you got regarding the collection over the years?
A: The most serious offer came from Howard Mann, I must have entertained hundreds of offers some from Europe some from the Far East. I even hired several agents over the years one who claimed to have a $40,000,000 offer other in the $20,000,000 range. You name them I met with them.

Q: According to some sources you have sold the items recently to Howard Mann. Is it true? Did you keep any of the items?
A: Yes the entire collection was sold to Howard Mann. I kept some of the items.

Q: Do you have any connection with Mr. Mann and any of his entities? Mann created companies with names that are very similar to yours. As well he is using the same lawyer as you did.
A: Yes my family and I own a small percentage of the new entities in California. These entities have the same name to allow them protection under the dismissal of Michael Jackson 2005 law suite which was dismissed with prejudice. That means you cannot be sued again for the same thing. Edgar Pease is a fine lawyer he did represent me in the 2005 lawsuit. He knows all the facts that is probably why Howard Mann hired him.

Q: What do you think about the recent court case between the Michael Jackson Estate and Mr. Mann?
A: I think the lawsuit will be dismissed by the court.

Q: How do you feel about the things said or written about you in the media or on the fan forums?
A: Sometimes the nasty comments get to me but i'm sure the fan's are acting out of their love for Michael. Nothing that I did was personal it was only business. I would like to ask the fans what they would do if in my shoes. The year is 1991, I was a major developer and general contractor in my home state of New Jersey, I was 51 years old. My father died in 1959 at age 51, I was 19, I quit college and started a construction business from scratch, worked 7 days a week built the business to one of the largest construction firms in the state, building schools, hospitals, Hi-Rise apartments, and hotels. In 1985, I formed a joint venture to develop my home town of Asbury Park NJ. The value of that project was $1 Billion Dollars. The economy went bad in late 80's. My joint venture partner went bankrupt and took me with him. I owned a 256 room hotel in Asbury Park, Johnny Cash, my closest friend was one of my partners, the hotel then failed and went bankrupt. These events forced me into personal bankruptcy and I lost everything, including my Home, three Motels, Office Building, hotel,and a 12 building Industrial Park all toll assets of over $80 million, everything I worked my whole life for was gone. The only thing my family had left was H.V.V. Corp which owned Kramer Guitar Co as the stock was owned by my son and daughter and not subject to my personal bankruptcy. Going back to 1976 I was the original investor in Kramer Guitar Co I eventually became Chairman of the Board. Kramer grew so fast that by the late 80's it was the hottest guitar in the country, played and endorsed by Eddie Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Hank Williams Jr, Twisted Sister on and on. We made a custom guitar for Tito Jackson and Kramer was used on The Victory Tour. In 1989 Kramer was sold to a investment group they defaulted on a bank loan and H.V.V. corp purchased the assets from the bank, and tried to revitalize the Kramer Brand. However a dispute with the bank over the ownership of some trademarks forced H.V.V. corp into a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. In 1991, while in Bankruptcy H.V.V. won it's suit against the bank and was then approached by the Jackson Family through their newly established corporation called Jackson Communications Inc. to purchase,and fund the Plan of Reorganization for H.V.V.corp. which would lead to J.C.I. owning Kramer. Part of the deal was that I would sit on the Advisory Board of Directors of J.C.I. In 1992 I attended a Board meeting lasting 4 days held at the family home, Havenhurst, in Encino. I met the entire family except Michael. That Plan of Reorganization was approved by the Court. J.C.I. made the first payment and then defaulted and made no other payments. The Court converted H.V.V. to a Chapter 7 and sold the assets at auction I got NOTHING. I am now completely broke. So I filed suite against J.C.I. and was awarded a judgment of $1.4 million J.C.I. claimed they had no assets, the Federal Judge allowed me to pierce the corporate vail and personal judgments were entered against all stockholders that could be served. We could never serve Michael, Janet or Jackie, my lawyer was not concerned as he figured we could easily collect $1.4 million from the rest of the family. After losing everything in a personal bankruptcy and then getting screwed out of the last thing your family own's meaning the Guitar Company is a bitter pill to swallow. So I fought Back. Like any reasonable person in my shoes would have done, nothing personal just business.

Q: Did you ever meet with Michael Jackson? What do you think about him?
A: No I never met Michael but I feel like I know him from seeing many of his personal effects. You could tell how talented he was just by some of his writings and drawings which I had the privilege to see and touch.I wish that I could have met him because I believe that we could have resolved our problems. Instead this team of lawyers got involved and really came after me .I must tell you this, that by 1993 I was so broke that at the deposition of Joe Jackson I offered to settle my $1.4 million dollar judgment for a quick payment of $100 thousand dollars. The family lawyer say's "I'm here to make sure that you get nothing". That attitude is what kept me going...


(leave your comments to Mr. Vaccaro by clicking on the Comments link under)

Melissa Johnson Case Updates

Some updates from the above titled case:

- The MJ Estate wanted to deposit Howard Mann in the case. Who first asked for a change in the date, and later cancelled it through his councel saying "the plaintiffs wouldn't need him". Now the court ordered that Mann has to appear for a deposition no later than February 28th, 2011.

- The MJ Estate asked for a premilnary injuction, and the Judge granted it. From now on Melissa Johnson or any of her related companies can not use MJ's likenes and any of his trademarks. The only thing they can keep for now is the Heal The World name. This is a serious damage both for Johnson and Mann (the later paid huge money for the non-existing rights).

More Cheaters

I have previously reported about the Michael Jackson Asian Rights Co. (MJAR), a company set up by an "almost business partner" of MJ. The company similarly to Vintage Pop Media LLC claims that they have the rights to use MJ's likeness to sell merchandises. On their website they list some of the trademarks they think they own: "Michael Jackson", "Michael J. Jackson", "Michael Joseph Jackson", "MJ", "MJJ". They even created a logo claiming they got the rights from MJ himself (http://mjfc.jp/information/mj%E3%83%AD%E3%82%B4s.jpg)

MJAR recently updated their websites with two new mobile developments. As well they sent out a press release about a new Thriller doll (http://www.goodsmile.info/product/en/3037/figma+Michael+Jackson.html)

Contrary to what MJAR claims, according to the Japanese Trademark Office the only MJ trademark registered so far is owned by the MJ Estate (some recently registered claims haven't been accepted yet).

As a tidbit: Melissa Johnson's trademark claims have been rejected in Australia, UK and Germany recently.

Another New MJ Material

A new material has been recently copyrighted by the MJ Estate. It's name is "If You’ve Got It, Bring It". The most interesting part is that the copyright has been filed under Optimum Productions Inc., that has been the video production company of MJ. This means that the new material might be a video.

MJ Business Clearing Up

As I have reported previously, there is an ongoing "house cleaning" in the MJ business areas coordinated by his Estate. Some less important but interesting changes:

- Majority of his old companies are activated again, and the entity details as per the entity address is John Branca's office, agent address is Crowe Horvath's (accounting company) address. I have no exact information of the real reason of the changes, however my guess would be to centralize the intellectual property rights to one company with the merg outs, or something to do with taxation issues.
Companies affedted like: History Tours Inc, History Tours Inc II, Invincible Tours Inc, Go For Your Dreams Foundation, MJJ Artistic Inc, Triumph Multimedia Corp,

- Interesting exceptations are: Triumph International Inc. (agent address for Greenberg Traurig, this company might stay activated and responsible for all IP rights), MJJ Records LLC (aka. MJJ Music, with Sony addresses), MJJ Ventures and MJJ Productions (has the entity address of Crowe Horvath).

- If anyone from the Estate reads me, some more companies left. :) Like: MJJ Kingdom LLC, Jackson International LLC., MJ Company LLC.

New MJ Songs!

New MJ songs!

MJ recorded "For The World" with Theron Feemster in 2009 in Los Angeles.

And "All In Your Name" with Barry Gibb in 2003 in his Miami home.

As well two another songs has been registered recently under "Beatbox 2010" and "Shut Up And Dance". Both songs has been recorded with Eric Kirkland and Prince Michael Durham sometime in 2009.