Despite a legal battle, a hologram of the late Michael Jackson will “perform” at the Billboard Music Awards.

The companies that previously collaborated to generate Tupac Shakur’s likeness for Coachella in 2012, Hologram USA Inc and Musion Das Hologram, filed a lawsuit against the awards claiming that using a Jackson hologram would violate their patent.

A judge has now ruled that the awards can use the hologram as it will b=only be a one-off performance.

"The court's decision is not surprising," attorney Howard Weitzman, who represented Jackson's estate, said in a statement.

"The request to stop this extraordinary Michael Jackson event was ludicrous."

Hologram USA Inc and Musion Das Hologram have expressed a desire to appeal the decision.