New $10M lawsuit filed over Michael Jackson hologram stunt

Executives of the company behind the Michael Jackson hologram performance have filed a lawsuit against the entrepreneur who claims to own the technology.

The late King of Pop appeared as a 3D projection at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas in May, five years after his death, to dance and sing to new track Slave To The Rhythm in virtual form.

Entrepreneur Alki David attempted to halt the production by hitting Jackson's estate executors with legal action, claiming the stunt would violate his patent rights.

Members of the technical team which created the performance, Pulse Evolution, have now hit back by filing a $10 million lawsuit against David in a Los Angeles court on Thursday, accusing him of taking credit for the event and stealing attention away from the true creators.

In the complaint, they claim David had "no involvement whatsoever" in the Jackson hologram and "falsely claimed credit for creating and developing the visual effects spectacle in a nationally-televised interview on CNN, in press releases and on his various websites operated by his company, FilmOn."

David continues to pursue his own lawsuit against Jackson's estate executors, the award show producers and Pulse Evolution over claims they used the patented technology he owns without his permission.