Quincy Jones is suing the Michael Jackson estate for $10 million following alleged breaches of contract since Jackson’s death.
The issues are surrounding the This Is It movie and soundtrack, The Cirque du Soleil productions and the 25th anniversary edition of the album Bad .
The Hollywood Reporter reported that a complaint was filed by Jones in L.A. on Friday. In it Jones says that recordings he has worked on were wrongfully edited then remixed, depriving him of profits.
Jones also said that he was denied credit for Jackson’s posthumous releases claiming that MJJ and Sony have entered into deals thereby eating into profits due to him from royalties.
You can read the full version of the complaint here .
Quincy Jones’s attorney, Henry Gradstein , said: “Quincy has been frustrated with these matters for a number of years, felt he was not making any progress and needed to take more formal action.”
The agreements in the contracts between Jackson and Jones from 1978 to1985, stipulate that Jones be offered the chance to re-edit or remix any master recordings and that he be given written consent as well as credit for the each of the recordings.
Quincy Jones and his team are claiming that MJJ breached the previously agreed deal when they allowed third parties to exploit works following Jackson’s death: “without first providing a reasonable opportunity to Jones to perform such remixes and/or re-edits.”
In short, the complaint alleges that “clandestine agreements” were made which reduced Jones’ royalties on money due to him as part of the contracts he had with Michael Jackson when he was alive.
Howard Weitzman, the lawyer representing the Michael Jackson Estate, said that the estate was: “saddened to learn that Quincy Jones has filed a lawsuit seeking money from Michael’s estate. To the best of its knowledge, Mr. Jones has been appropriately compensated over approximately 35 years for his work with Michael.”
It remains to be seen what the outcome of the Quincy Jones claim against the Michael Jackson Estate will be as lawyers fight it out in the courts to reach a suitable agreement.