Foreseeable Monetization of Michael Jackson's Assets After Death: How to Value Copyrights of Musical Compositions and Rights of Publicity

Private Wealth Services attorney Jaime Herren authored an article in the California Lawyers Association's Trusts and Estates Quarterly about the valuation of Michael Jackson's assets after his death and ensuing battle with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Michael Jackson is now the world's highest paid dead celebrity because his co-executors were able to monetize his intangible assets and increase their value. The IRS disagreed with the valuations and took the position that the Estate had undervalued Jackson's assets by $1.1 million, leading to a long dispute. This article analyzes that dispute and discusses key takeaways from it.

READ: Foreseeable Monetization of Michael Jackson's Assets After Death: How to Value Copyrights of Musical Compositions and Rights of Publicity (Subscription required)