JACKSON SUES UMG

Michael Jackson has sued the parent company of his old record label seeking unpaid royalties and rights to his Motown catalog.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, accuses Motown and its Universal Music Group of reneging on the terms of a 1980 agreement that settled a split from Motown by Jackson and his brothers in 1976.

According to the suit, Jackson had agreed to forfeit any royalties due for solo performances or Jackson 5 recordings that were released before their settlement and for the future re-release of recordings they made while at Motown.

In return, the suit alleges, Motown agreed to pay Jackson royalties for any "best-of" compilations of his Motown recordings with the Jackson 5 or as a solo artist, as well as for newly issued albums of previously unreleased material.

Despite release of this so-called new product, neither Motown nor its parent has paid Jackson "a single dollar in royalties," the suit says.

In addition, Jackson claims Motown and UMG breached its agreement by using the name Jackson 5 to advertise, promote and license products unrelated to their musical recordings.

The lawsuit seeks an accounting and full payment of all royalties due Jackson as well as termination of the 1980 settlement. It also seeks a judgment giving him title to "all master recordings and musical compositions made and/or composed by Jackson" during his record contract with Motown.

Four members of the Jackson 5—Jackie, Tito, Marlon and Michael—broke with Motown in 1976 to sign with Epic Records, adding brother Randy to the lineup and changing their name to the Jacksons.