'Thriller' director sues Michael Jackson
The Associated Press
Posted: 01/28/2009 10:21:10 AM PST
Updated: 01/28/2009 10:47:10 AM PST


Click photo to enlargeIn this May 27, 2006 file photo, American singer Michael... ((AP Photo /Koji Sasahara, file))«1»SANTA MONICA, Calif.—"Thriller" may be headed to Broadway, but first Michael Jackson's song and groundbreaking music video may be headed to court.
John Landis, the acclaimed director who co-wrote the video and shot "Thriller," is suing Jackson, claiming the pop star has failed to pay him royalties for the project for the past four years.

Landis' Levitsky Productions Inc. sued Jackson for unspecified damages in Santa Monica on Jan. 21, days before a Broadway producer announced he had bought the rights to adapt "Thriller" for the stage.

The lawsuit claims Landis is owed 50 percent of profits from "Thriller" projects and alleges Jackson continues to license rights to video games, toys and comic books based on the 14-minute music video and a documentary.

A phone message left for a New York attorney who has represented Jackson was not immediately returned Wednesday morning.


Oh no, that's bad.

John Landis has been a loyal defender of the creep for years now. Looks like he may, like everyone else, be seeing Mike's true colours at last.

[Flame snip - luv4u] Like any of this shit really matters. Get a life.

midnightmover said:

midnightmover said:

I don't see why you have to be insulting to each and every MJ fan. Just plain rude sometimes. You don't like him, fine. Why bother clicking on these threads just to intentionally act like an idiot? Cause that's how it comes across, again and again, ad nauseum

Don't you get bored?

Marrk said:

For real.

Hope they settle since Landis has known MJ for 25 years. I don't understand why he waits four years to sue.

Marrk said:

Excuse me, but do you know how to read? Here was Amit1234's post...



So remind me who started insulting who.

angel345 said:

Maybe the 2005 court case, frivolous lawsuits, MJ moving out of the country and settling his financial situation may have a lot to do with it.

midnightmover said:[quote]

Marrk said:

Well you sir, have 'previous'.

Calling MJ a 'creep' is bound to fire up some folk instantly, but you know that already right? course you do.

Nobody can be a calm and measured fan of him with you can they? all instantly idiotic or 'loons'.

That's all i'm saying, i'll wait for you to goad me (with minimal interest)

But back on topic, it's a shame about John Landis falling out with Mike, if true, I'm kinda annoyed with both parties all round. I'm sure it won't take much sorting out though.

come on,Michael.....pay your bills! Then you wouldn't keep having all these distracting lawsuits.

SoulAlive said:

The payments stopped four years ago right around the time the trial started

I'm puzzled as to how toy royalties can be annoying John though. Does this include Michaels likeness in the red jacket for things like those Japanese figures of him?

Maybe it does, i don't recall MJ wearing the red jacket in concert, Was John getting paid when he re-enacted the video in concert? i'd be amazed if that was the case. Does John want some money for all the people doing the Thriller dance on youtube?

Thriller25 was available with a DVD, i think it must be about that mainly.

Marrk said:

This could possibly be a case of MJ not paying him since 2005... and it probably have nothing to do with how Thriller is being used, but much about how much revenue on it is sold and if the other party has not paid for what had been ongoing until a certain time, then that could be the issue. It's not really 100% known about what really is going on.

Marrk said:

Amit1234's post was clearly not calm and measured, was it?

I call Michael a creep because that's what he is. There's a reason why Michael gets sued so much. He is not an honourable person. I'm sorry if the truth hurts, but some of you need to face up to that fact. Why are you annoyed with John Landis? Because he didn't just roll over and let Michael rip him off?

midnightmover said:[quote]

Marrk said:

Oh I'm sorry.

You completely misunderstood me.

When I told you to [Flame snip - luv4u], I meant that in the most loving way possible.

God, these MJ fans are seriously fucked. There could be a film on the net of him fucking little kids and you'd find some way to defend it.

Mong said:

Some of them are acting as if this is Landis's fault. Any objective person can see that Michael is in the habit of fucking people over. Friends, associates, employees. He deceives and cheats them all. How can anyone not see that?

Marrk said:

He's more obsessed than any supposed 'MJ loon' I've ever encountered.

Mong said:

Your handle says it all, really.

Update on the lawsuit--he's now suing him twice!

'Thriller' director sues Michael Jackson
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY – 12 hours ago

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — Director John Landis sued Michael Jackson and a Broadway producer on Wednesday, claiming the pair lack the proper rights to adapt a stage production based on "Thriller."

Landis, who co-wrote and directed the groundbreaking music video, sued the pop star and producer James L. Nederlander's company over the possible show. Nederlander announced earlier this week that it had acquired the rights to "Thriller" and songs from Jackson's blockbuster album of the same name.

Landis' lawsuit seeks a judge's order that Jackson lacks the adequate rights to transfer to Nederlander, and that the producer doesn't have the authority to create a stage show based on the video or documentary that Landis directed.

Landis' attorney, Miles J. Feldman, said the director would seek to stop the show "if it becomes necessary."

Phone messages seeking comment from Nederlander and a New York attorney who has represented Jackson were not returned Wednesday.

Landis claims Jackson, who recently moved back to Los Angeles, was paid more than $400,000 for the rights Landis owns.

Wednesday's lawsuit came days after the "An American Werewolf in London" director sued Jackson, claiming he hadn't been paid royalties on "Thriller" for at least four years.

Landis is personally suing Jackson over the Broadway production; the suit over royalties is on behalf of his company, Levitsky Productions Inc.

The earlier suit states Landis is owed 50 percent of profits from "Thriller" projects and alleges Jackson continues to license rights to video games, toys and comic books based on the 14-minute music video and a documentary. The lawsuit also seeks an accounting of the video's profits.

"It makes no sense to me at all why they haven't provided the payments and accounting to John," Feldman said.

http://www.google.com/hos...wD960HB7O0
[Edited 1/29/09 6:50am]

bboy87 said:

So,that's his excuse?

midnightmover said:

That bitch ain't got no money to pay his bills. He used it all up paying off the families of those little boys he molested.

vainandy said:

oh dear....but know one really knows if he got money or not and how much....I still think he's loaded...i.e....he got more money than most artist out their but for how long is the question...

i dont get the fact that he does this after what , 25 years , is this his way to celebrate thriller 25?

Another hot mess in the world they call Michael Jackson.

Cloudbuster said:

I didn't know that you could type whilst giving MJ a reacharound.

Mong said:

to bad there is no video or any other concrete evidence either though i'm sure you wish there was. I have never seen people who want a child to have been molested so bad just because just so it could give them a reason to hate somebody. And if you people actually cared about the child you wouldn't make jokes or post laughing thats how i know you want him to be a child molester for whatever sick perverted reason you have. It has nothing to do with you concern for children It has everything to do with the fact that you are hate filled pathetic beings who could benefit from getting a constructive hobby and a life