Los Angeles, Oct 13 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Michael Jackson the pop icon, who lived in controversy and died in another major controversy is mired in another controversy even months after his death.

Sony and Michael Jackson’s estate had released a new (or so they thought) single ‘This is it’ yesterday on the Internet. The single was available for sale on the official Michael Jackson website and on www.amazon.com as well.

Soon, after being released it became an online hit, as was to be expected as Michael Jackson is probably a greater star after his death. But some fans thought the song ‘This is it’ was very similar to another 1991 song “I Never Heard,” recorded by R&B singer Safire, which gave songwriting credit to Jackson and Paul Anka.

Paul Anka also got wind of the whole controversy and he threatened to file a suit against the Michael Jackson estate and go the whole works.

He had to threaten to sue to get the masters back, Anka said, along with documentation proving that he holds the copyright to the music and lyrics.

Anka says that he and the soon-to-be King of Pop wrote the song in 1983 as a duet for Anka’s album Walk a Fine Line, but that Jackson took the tapes back shortly after the song was first recorded.

However Michael Jackson’s estate representatives were quick on their feet and soon they complicated Paul Anka with a conciliatory phone call and also promised to give him 50% of the proceeds of the sale from the song too. They also acknowledged him as the co-writer of the song.

“The song was picked because the lyrics were appropriate because of the name Michael gave his tour,” McClane and co administrator John Branca said. “We are thrilled to present this song in Michael’s voice for the first time, and that Michael’s fans have responded in unprecedented numbers. The song was co written by the legendary Paul Anka.”

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