Founder Melissa Johnson was hit with a lawsuit for infringement and unfair competition shortly after she established her organisation in 2008, six years after the Thriller superstar's own charity, also named the Heal the World Foundation, shut down.
Estate executors argued the new company had no real link to Jackson, even though the superstar's mother, Katherine, had agreed to work with Johnson and encouraged Michael's three children to get involved.
But the two parties have now worked out a deal following a meeting on Monday, April 18 between estate lawyer Howard Weitzman and Katherine Jackson's legal advisor, Perry Sanders.
According to TMZ.com, Johnson has been granted permission to use the late singer's name and image in association with the charity, while Katherine has been made a member of the board of directors to oversee the foundation's work.
The lawsuit is expected to be formally dismissed in court on Tuesday, April 19.
Estate executors argued the new company had no real link to Jackson, even though the superstar's mother, Katherine, had agreed to work with Johnson and encouraged Michael's three children to get involved.
But the two parties have now worked out a deal following a meeting on Monday, April 18 between estate lawyer Howard Weitzman and Katherine Jackson's legal advisor, Perry Sanders.
According to TMZ.com, Johnson has been granted permission to use the late singer's name and image in association with the charity, while Katherine has been made a member of the board of directors to oversee the foundation's work.
The lawsuit is expected to be formally dismissed in court on Tuesday, April 19.
- 4/19/2011
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
The Michael Jackson Estate has settled its lawsuit against the Heal the World Foundation , and the Estate is now copacetic with the charity using Michael Jackson 's name. The Estate had sued Heal the World, on grounds it had no right to use Mj's name to solicit money. But we've learned there was a secret meeting yesterday between Katherine Jackson 's new lawyer, Perry Sanders , and Estate lawyer Howard Weitzman . We're told the Foundation will...
- 4/19/2011
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Who's bad? How about the folks using the name of Michael Jackson's former charity, Heal the World, for their own benefit? M.J.'s estate won a preliminary injunction today from a federal judge who ordered the new Heal the World Foundation to stop exploiting Jackson's name, image and likeness. U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee ruled that Heal the World owner Melissa Johnson of Indio, Calif., clearly tried to capitalize in the site's online mission statement, which notes Jackson's charitable works and talks about organizing "Michael's Army" and "M.J. Kids" à la Jerry Lewis. Jackson founded his Heal the World Foundation in 1992, named after his hit song. But it...
- 4/27/2010
- E! Online
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