A new legal decision has added another twist to the ongoing dispute over artwork connected to Michael Jackson and sculptor Brett-Livingstone Strong.
Strong, a sculptor and former friend of Michael Jackson, claims that Michael gifted him the copyright to certain artworks many years ago, which the Michael Jackson Estate has publicly questioned the authenticity. Now, a California judge has ruled that those copyrights can legally be sold, not for an art auction, but to pay Strong’s personal debts.
Why is this happening?
Strong reportedly owes about $2 million in unpaid alimony and child support to his estranged wife, Monique Strong. He no longer makes art and has few assets left, so the court decided the copyrights he owns could be used to pay what he owes.
What did the judge decide?
The California Court of Appeal confirmed that there is nothing in the law stopping a court from forcing the sale of copyrights, even if they are connected to famous artwork. It’s the first time a case like this has happened involving Michael Jackson.
The judges said that copyright is considered property, just like a house, a car, or even a patent, so it can be sold if a person needs to pay debts.
Why does this matter for Michael Jackson fans?
This ruling means that the copyrights to some artwork linked to Michael Jackson may end up in the hands of a new buyer. If that happens, the buyer would have the legal right to control how those images are used or sold in the future.
However, this does not resolve any authenticity questions. Michael Jackson’s estate has previously stated that it does not recognize these artworks as genuine Michael Jackson creations, and that dispute remains unresolved.
