MUMBAI: On Friday, a federal judge ruled that the Billboard Music Awards would be legally allowed to use a hologram of Michael Jackson at the event, which is to be held on Sunday. According to reports, the lawsuit has been filed by Musion Das Hologram and Hologram after plans to use a hologram of the late singer were revealed.

However, Judge Kent Dawson, in his ruling, said the evidence was not enough to show that the planned 3D graphic would in any way violate patents held by the two tech companies. They hold the rights to the technology which helped digitally resurrect rapper Tupac Shakur at the Coachella music festival in 2012.

The lawsuit filed by Musion and Hologram USA, states that a product of theirs was being used by a competitor without their authorisation to develop an image that shows Jackson performing to the track- 'Slave to the Rhythm'.

Producers of the show had been promoting a "history making performance" to promote the King of Pop's posthumous album 'Xscape' at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Ryan Baker, attorney of the plaintiff, said that although his clients were dissatisfied with the ruling, they would continue with the lawsuit and was confident that they would eventually prevail.

The Billboard Music Awards will be held on Sunday, 18 May at the MGM Grand.