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"The defendants are taking advantage of the fact that Michael is dead to act as though they have obtained the rights," the documents said. Also behind the lawsuit is Triumph, an American company wholly owned by the estate and set up by Jackson to handle his merchandising. The estate erased nearly $500 million in debt after Jackson's death and keeps churning out new products. It opened a Las Vegas Cirque-du-Soleil show this year and is likely considering additional releases of Jackson-related material to ensure his mother and three children keep living comfortably and fans have new material to see and hear. Triumph sued another Japanese company that sold Jackson goods and won in 2011. Japanese are among Jackson's most loyal fans, and many stuck with him through his two trials centered on child-molestation charges, which never resulted in convictions. He repeatedly denied the charges. His death brought much of this nation out in mourning.
[Associated
Press;
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