Michael Jackson is
Vindicated in Italian Copyright Case; Court of Appeals in Milan Finds Jackson
Found Not Guilty of Plagiarism LOS ANGELES, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The Court of
Appeals of Milan has rejected the appeal of Italian songwriter Albano Carrisi,
and confirmed the lower court's judgment in favor of Michael Jackson and Sony
Music, in a lawsuit involving Jackson's hit song "Will You Be There." Al Bano
claimed that Jackson copied his song "I Cigni di Balaka" (The Swans of Balaka).
In November of 1997, the Tribunal of Milan ruled that there was no plagiarism,
and Al Bano appealed. Jackson's copyright lawyer, Eve Wagner of Sauer & Wagner
LLP, said they just received official notice of the Court of Appeal's ruling,
confirming the judgment in favor of Jackson and Sony Music. Ms. Wagner commented
on the victory: "This lawsuit has been pending for 7 years, and we are delighted
that Michael Jackson has once again been vindicated, and that justice has been
served. This is the fourth time Mr. Jackson has triumphed in an unsubstantiated
copyright infringement case." Ms. Wagner also said that Al Bano was ordered to
pay legal expenses to Jackson and Sony, among others. Ms. Wagner also commented
on a ruling earlier this year by a criminal court in Rome finding Jackson guilty
of plagiarism in a lawsuit involving the same two songs -- "Will You Be There"
and "I Cigni di Balaka." Wagner stated that "the criminal court's ruling was groundless
and a travesty. The criminal court had not only ignored the previous rulings by
six other judges in Jackson's favor, but also the opinion of the court's own expert
that there was 'no possibility of plagiarism.' The Court of Appeals in Milan considered
the criminal judgment and nonetheless concluded that Jackson was not guilty of
plagiarism." For further information, contact Eve Wagner of Sauer & Wagner LLP,
1801 Century Park East, Suite 520, Los Angeles, CA 90067, Telephone: 310-712-8100,
Cellular Phone: 310-874-9255. SOURCE Sauer & Wagner LLP CO: Sauer & Wagner LLP;
Sony Music ST: California, Italy IN: ENT FIN SU: LAW 11/04/1999 14:11 EST http://www.prnewswire.com