Sony Can’t Squelch Michael Jackson Album Authenticity Suit (1)

Sony Music Entertainment can’t use California free speech protections to avoid a consumer lawsuit over questions about the authenticity of songs on a Michael Jackson album released after the singer’s death, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

The controversy is over a disc released after Jackson’s 2009 death following some Jackson family members disputing whether he was the singer on three of the album’s nine tracks.

The justices reversed the appeals court, holding a consumer had demonstrated her claims related to Michael Jackson’s packaging and promotional video have sufficient merit, and rejected Sony’s commercial speech arguments.

“Perhaps in another context ...