US music legend Quincy Jones sues Michael Jackson's estate

Prominent US music producer Quincy Jones speaks during a press conference in Seoul, July 25, 2013. (AFP/Jung Yeon-Je)

LOS ANGELES: Music impresario Quincy Jones, credited with producing some of Michael Jackson's biggest hits, has sued the late singer's estate for US$10 million, court documents showed on Saturday.

Jones filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit in connection with projects released after the singer's death, according to a California court filing.

The suit against Sony Music Entertainment and MJJ Productions, a song company controlled by Jackson's estate, was filed Friday in Los Angeles.

It alleges that Jones has not been compensated for the posthumously released "This Is It" Jackson concert film and album, Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil productions, and a 25th anniversary edition of the late pop icon's "Bad" album.

Court papers said the estate, after Jackson's death in June 2009, "began commercially releasing new audio and audio-visual works without regard to the terms" of agreements worked out earlier with Jones.

The Jackson estate, in a statement issued by one of its attorneys, Howard Weitzman, said it was "saddened to learn that Quincy Jones has filed a lawsuit seeking money" from the King of Pop's remaining holdings.

"To the best of its knowledge, Mr Jones has been appropriately compensated over approximately 35 years for his work with Michael," Weitzman said.

Jones, one of US pop music's most influential behind-the-scenes figures as a composer, arranger, conductor, and record company executive, has worked with legends from Jackson to Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand.

He won 27 Grammy Awards during a half century in the music business, and produced Jackson's biggest hits, including "Off the Wall," "Thriller" and "Bad".