Jackson seeks footage injunction

SINGER Michael Jackson has issued legal proceedings against Granada television over its behind-the-scenes documentary about the star.

The High Court in London is expected on Friday to consider Jackson's case against the programme, Living With Michael Jackson, which featured interviews with journalist Martin Bashir and revealed the superstar had shared a bed with children.

After the programme aired on ITV1 Jackson lodged a complaint with broadcasting authorities and accused Bashir of "betrayal".

The singer's own production company then released footage of the Bashir interviews in which the interviewer praised the way Jackson treated children.

Jackson and his company MJJ Productions Inc are seeking an injunction against Granada so that it cannot use unseen footage "in any way" until wider disputes are settled.

A statement issued last night by Jackson said: "The injunction application, which is filed on behalf of Michael Jackson and MJJ Productions, seeks, amongst other things, to place all unseen footage held by Granada 'in escrow', so that it may not be used in any way, until the wider dispute between Jackson and Granada over whether Martin Bashir breached the terms on which he was permitted to film Jackson and the rights to the film have been resolved."

The statement continued: "Consistently Michael Jackson has argued Martin Bashir and Granada broke the agreement by which he was permitted to film Michael, concerning ownership of the filmed material and permissions relating to the inclusion of the Jackson children."

A Granada spokesman said they had been informed of the proceedings on Monday night.

"We shall be resisting such claims vigorously," he said.