Snapper files suit over michael jackson book

New York (ANI): A photographer, who has just published a photo book featuring michael jackson's glittering glove, has filed a suit against the King of Pop"s lawyers over blocking sales of his tome. Henry Leutwyler has claimed that Jacko's estate and a California auction house are trying to block sales of his 'Neverland Lost: A Portrait of michael jackson".

The Manhattan federal court suit seeks an order declaring that Leutwyler has the right to distribute the 96-page hardcover. In court papers, the Swiss-born photog has said that he snapped images of Jackson's famed white glove and other stage accessories with the permission of Julien's Auctions before the company put them up for bid last year in Times Square.

Some of Leutwyler's shots appeared last year in Conde Nast Portfolio magazine. And he has said that he "was informed of no limitations, contractual or otherwise, upon his usage of the photographs." But last month, Leutwyler learned from Julien's lawyer that "the Jackson estate" believed he was "violating its rights" and that the estate's lawyers "were very aggressive."

"Leutwyler has a reasonable apprehension that Julien and the estate of michael jackson (and/or its related entities) will bring suit against Leutwyler," the New York Post quoted his pre-emptive legal action as saying. The book was released yesterday with a list price of 45 dollars.