Quincy Jones’ $10 million lawsuit involving projects made after Michael Jackson‘s death will head to trial this summer. The court ruling was made by Judge Michael L. Stern on Thursday.
In 2013, the music producer sued Sony Entertainment and MJJ Productions, a song company owned by Michael’s estate. The lawsuit claims master recordings that Jones worked on were wrongfully edited and remixed in an effort to deny him of profits made from new works produced after Jackson’s death, which include the 25th anniversary edition of Bad and This Is It film and soundtrack album.
Jackson’s mega hits, “Thriller,” “Beat It,” and “Billie Jean,” were re-edited for the projects. Jones claims MJJ breached his contract by allowing third parties to edit the works “without first providing a reasonable opportunity to Jones to perform such remixes and/or re-edits.”
Defense counsel Zia F. Modabber will attempt to refute Jones’ claims. “Their position is they have the perpetual right to not have anyone else touch it without Mr. Jones’ permission,” Modabber said. Pointing out that for years Jones did not have a problem with third-parties remixing songs he produced for the King of Pop.
The trial is set for June 15.
