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Michael Jackson hologram performs Slave To The Rhythm... and gets standing ovation at Billboard Music Awards

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 21:25 EST, 18 May 2014 | Updated: 11:19 EST, 19 May 2014

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He died in June 2009 but Michael Jackson's music is still having audiences everywhere on their feet.

And on Sunday night a hologram of the late King Of Pop rocked the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.

The hologram, which was amazingly realistic, performed Slave To The Rhythm and even moonwalked across the stage.

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Still rocking the house: A hologram of Michael Jackson performed at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday

The track is off Jackson's new posthumous album Xscape and was introduced by Ludacris, alongside his Rising Star co-hosts Kesha and Brad Paisley.

The hologram danced around the stage in a golden jacket and red trousers with fire shooting all around him, before appearing alongside several dancers, and began with Michael on a throne.

The onstage resurrection garnered a standing ovation by the massive star-studded audience, who were clearly moved by the performance nearly five years after his death - but it might not have happened.

Only on Friday did a federal judge rule that the Billboard Music Awards could use the hologram, rejecting efforts from tech companies seeking to block the digital performance.

Mesmerising: The incredible performance resulted in a standing ovation from the star-studded audience

Billboard Awards 2014: Michael Jackson's hologram steals the show

Judge Kent Dawson said there wasn't enough evidence to show the planned 3-D image would violate patents held by Hologram USA Inc. and Musion Das Hologram Ltd.

The companies own rights to technology known for digitally resurrecting deceased rapper Tupac Shakur at the 2012 Coachella music festival.

'The court's decision is not surprising,' attorney Howard Weitzman, who represented Jackson's estate and dick clark productions, wrote in an email. 'The request to stop this extraordinary Michael Jackson event was ludicrous.'

Plans to use the hologram during the show Sunday emerged with the lawsuit, but weren't confirmed until the hearing Friday afternoon. Show producers had been promoting only a 'history-making performance' at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena that would promote Xscape.

New track: The hologram performed Slave To The Rhythm, a new song off the posthumous album Xscape

Hologram USA and Musion said in their emergency lawsuit on Thursday that one of their products was being used without authorisation by a competitor to create a segment that depicts Jackson performing Slave to the Rhythm.

Attorney Michael Feder, representing the show and Jackson estate, filed a response on Friday, saying the holographic performance had been planned for months and was discussed with Alki David, who owns the rights to the technology that creates and projects lifelike images to appear alongside live performers through Hologram USA and Musion.

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Plaintiff's attorney Ryan G. Baker said his clients were disappointed with the ruling, but the lawsuit will continue.

'It's only the very beginning of a case that will continue to be prosecuted by my clients, and ultimately they are confident that they will prevail and will recover all available damages for the defendants' infringing conduct,' Baker said.

Amazingly realistic: The hologram even did the moonwalk while dancers were beside it, and fire shot out around it

Hologram USA obtained the rights to the patents after the bankruptcy of Florida effects house Digital Domain, which created the Shakur image to wide acclaim two years ago.

The lawsuit also named John C. Textor, the chairman of Florida-based Pulse Entertainment Corp. who was the former head of Digital Domain. Pulse is accused of using the hologram techniques without a proper license. A phone message left for Textor was not immediately returned.

The lawsuit names Atlanta-based Pulse Entertainment Inc. as a defendant. Spokesman Ken S. Johnson said the company was listed incorrectly because it had no connection the Billboard Music Awards.

In March, Hologram USA sued Cirque du Soleil and MGM Resorts International over its show, Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino. The show features a performance by a digital rendition of Jackson, which the company also contends is an unlicensed use of its technology.

The case is being handled in a Los Angeles federal court and Cirque du Soleil and MGM Resorts have been granted an extension until May 23 to respond to the lawsuit.

Back in the day: Michael is seen here in February 1988. He died nearly five years ago, in June 2009

2014 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARD WINNERS

Top Artist
Justin Timberlake

Top New Artist
Lorde

The talented Mr Thicke: Robin was honoured with multiple awards for his song Blurred Lines

Top Male Artist
Justin Timberlake

Top Female Artist
Katy Perry

Top Duo/Group
Imagine Dragons

Top Billboard 200 Artist
Justin Timberlake

Top Hot 100 Artist
Imagine Dragons

Top Digital Songs Artist
Katy Perry

Top Radio Songs Artist
Justin Timberlake

Top Touring Artist
Bon Jovi

Top Social Artist
Justin Bieber

Top Streaming Artist
Miley Cyrus

Top R&B Artist
Justin Timberlake

Top Rap Artist
Eminem

Top Country Artist
Luke Bryan

Newcomer: Lorde's single Royals won Top Song

Top Rock Artist
Imagine Dragons

Top Latin Artist
Marc Anthony

Top Dance/Electronic Artist
Daft Punk

Top Christian Artist
Chris Tomlin

ALBUM AWARDS

Top Billboard 200 Album
Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience

Top R&B Album
Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience

Top Rap Album
Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2

Top Country Album
Luke Bryan, Crash My Party

Top Rock Album
Imagine Dragons, Night Visions

Top Latin Album
Marc Anthony, 3.0

Top Dance/Electronic Album
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories

Top Christian Album
Alan Jackson, Precious Memories: Volume II

SONG AWARDS

Top Hot 100 Song
Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell, Blurred Lines

Top Digital Song
Robin Thicke, Featuring T.I. & Pharrell Blurred Lines

Legacy: Jennifer Lopez was given the Icon Award at the Las Vegas event

Top Radio Song

Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell, Blurred Lines

Top Streaming Song (Audio)
Imagine Dragons, Radioactive

Top Streaming Song (Video)
Miley Cyrus, Wrecking Ball

Top R&B Song
Robin Thicke Feat. T.I. & Pharrell, Blurred Lines

Top Rap Song
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Ray Dalton, Can't Hold Us

Top Country Song
Florida Georgia Line Featuring Nelly, Cruise

Top Rock Song
Lorde, Royals

Top Latin Song
Marc Anthony, Vivir Mi Vida

Top Dance/Electronic Song
Avicii, Wake Me Up!

Top Christian Song
Matthew West, Hello, My Name Is