Michael Jackson - Businessman Banned From Using Michael Jackson Works

Administrators John Branca and John MCClain filed suit against Mann last year (11), accusing him of violating copyright and posing unfair competition to the estate by using art from Jackson's This Is It film and a song called Destiny on his website Michaeljacksonsecretvault.com.

The case went to court on Friday (10Aug12) and U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson ruled in favour of the estate, banning Mann from using any intellectual property created by the singer, including his trademarks, name and images.

The businessman claimed he had obtained the rights in a previous bankruptcy sale.

A statement issued to WENN by Zia Modabber, a lawyer representing Jackson's estate, reads: "The court's ruling makes clear that Howard Mann had no right to use Michael Jackson's intellectual property for his own benefit."

Estate attorney Howard Weitzman confirmed a trial date has been set for 4 September (12) to determine damages.

Mann previously collaborated with the Thriller hitmaker's mother Katherine Jackson, a beneficiary of the singer's estate, when they worked together on her 2010 coffee table book, Never Can Say Goodbye: The Katherine Jackson Archives.

The trial is likely to be an interesting one - Mann recently claimed to be in possession of evidence proving the King of Pop's will is a fake and vowed to unveil the documents in court as part of his legal battle against estate executors. His allegations emerged days after Jackson's siblings Janet, Rebbie and Randy declared their intentions to continue with their bid to overthrow the administrators over similar allegations about the late singer's will.