Andros Georgiou, a longtime friend of the late singer George Michael, is facing legal action from the singer’s estate over the release of previously unseen footage of the pop star. Georgiou has been ordered to cease distribution of nearly 90 minutes of video recorded between 1992 and 1993, or risk court proceedings.

The footage, filmed during the production of an unreleased album titled *Trojan Souls*, captures moments from the creative process that took place before George Michael stepped away from the project following the death of his partner, Anselmo Feleppa, in 1993. Georgiou, who was close to Michael and referred to him as a cousin due to their families’ shared migration from Cyprus to Britain in the 1950s, has made the videos available to fans online and monetized access to the content.

Georgiou, 63, contends that he holds the rights to the footage, having been the sole person to film during that period and without having signed any non-disclosure agreements. He described the legal move by the estate’s lawyers as “disgusting” and said he intends to fight the demand, accusing the estate of leveraging the late singer’s resources to intimidate him.

“I know if George was alive he would tell them to leave me alone,” Georgiou said. “They are trying to bully me, thinking I will not fight because I don’t have enough money, but trust me, I will fight.”

The estate, represented by the legal firm Russells, brought the case to London’s Intellectual Property and Enterprise Court, alleging breaches of intellectual property rights. Representatives for the estate did not provide comment.

The dispute highlights challenges around ownership and rights to personal recordings, particularly when the subject is a high-profile figure with a complex legacy. With conflicting claims over the footage’s ownership, the case is set to test how courts balance protecting estates’ interests against individuals' rights to creative materials they have produced.