Michael Jackson’s Beatles Rights Don’t Affect Paul McCartney, or Rock Band

Michael Jackson’s estate includes the rights to 267 Beatles songs, and there has been some speculation as to who will get the ownership of the tracks. Paul McCartney denied rumors that he was given ownership of the songs, or that he was “devastated” when he didn’t receive them. From McCartney’s Official website:

“Some time ago, the media came up with the idea that Michael Jackson was going to leave his share in the Beatles songs to me in his will which was completely made up and something I didn’t believe for a second.”

Read the rest of his comments:

“Now the report is that I am devastated to find that he didn’t leave the songs to me. This is completely untrue. I had not thought for one minute that the original report was true and therefore, the report that I’m devastated is also totally false, so don’t believe everything you read folks!”

“In fact, though Michael and I drifted apart over the years, we never really fell out, and I have fond memories of our time together.”

“At times like this, the press does tend to make things up, so occasionally; I feel the need to put the record straight.”

Michael Jackson bought ATV in 1985, which owned the rights to thousands of music catalogs. Rock Band developer Harmonix has stated that the uncertainty regarding the rights will not affect the track list of the upcoming Rock Band Beatles video game, due September 9.

Is McCartney right to criticize the media? Who will get ownership of the songs?

[Reuters]