Jackson accuser's mom cops to fraud

The mother of the boy who accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse last year has admitted to committing welfare fraud and agreed to pay more than $8,600 to resolve the matter. The Los Angeles woman, whose name has been withheld to protect the anonymity of the boy who alleged Jackson molested him, pleaded no contest to welfare fraud yesterday and was ordered to perform 150 hours of community service. The woman was expected to move to Georgia later this year and was ordered by the judge to enroll in a community service program there. In California, pleading no contest plea is the legal equivalent of pleading guilty. Jackson was acquitted of the charges last year after a sensational trial in which the woman testified that she was forbidden to leave Jackson's Neverland Valley Ranch and was intimidated by Jackson's associates. Jackson, 47, has since moved out of the country and is now believed to be living in Ireland. Neverland remains largely shuttered.

Snoop Dogg to roll our pet product line

Snoop Dogg is ready to give the nation's pets the Blue Carpet Treatment. To help promote his upcoming album of that name, the rapper has teamed up with Jakks Pacific for a new line of Snoop Dogg-branded pet products. The line, which includes dog toys, apparel, and accessories, will be available for preorder on Amazon's Web site on November 21, to coincide with the release of Snoop's album the same day. Snoop Dogg says about his new pet products line, "Go get some quick, dogg-gone-it! 'Cuz Snoop Dogg said so. Bow Wow!" Snoop said in a statement.

The pet product line includes a Snoop Dogg doggie basketball jersey, an animal print faux fur coat, and a Doggfather hoodie sweatshirt. It also features a DJ headset, boom box, Dogg bone, and football, all of which are made from durable plush and ballistic fabrics for safe and fun play for dogs. The clothing and products will cost between $5.99 and $24.99.

Thom Yorke to show off art in Spain

"Dr. Tchock," long regarded as the artistic pseudonym used by Radiohead front man Thom Yorke, is set to open an exhibition of artwork at a gallery in Barcelona, according to NME.com. The exhibit, first revealed by longtime Radiohead collaborator Stanley Donwood on his Web site, will kick off November 23 and run through December 16 at the Iguapop Gallery. It is titled "Stanley Donwood & Dr. Tchock: Paintings, Etc." The exhibition will feature artwork from the Radiohead albums Kid A, Amnesiac, and Hail to the Thief, among others.

Buffett sues Web site for trademark infringement

One month after taking to his Web site to refute allegations that he was caught with 100 tablets of Ectsasy, "Margaritaville" singer Jimmy Buffett has filed a lawsuit accusing another Web site operator of infringing on his trademarks. The lawsuit filed in a US District Court in Galveston, Texas, accused Robert Akard of operating a Web site, underonehut.com, which sells Buffett-trademarked items without permission.

"This guy, who Buffett and his people have chased all over the country, apparently has set up shop in Texas," said Buffett's lawyer, Tony Buzbee. Buffett won a previous court order in Nevada, but it "wasn't comprehensive enough," and Akard has since surfaced in New York, Florida, and Texas, Buzbee said. Buffett complains that Akard advertises as "Jimmy Buffett's Online Store for Merchandise," and sells T-shirts, music CDs, and other items that Buffett sells himself. Buffett is asking a judge to order Akard to stop using the singer's name and likeness, account for his profits, turn them over to Buffett, and pay unspecified damages.

Former Procol Harum band mates squabble in court

Once bandmates in '60s rock band Procol Harum, Matthew Fisher and Gary Brooker are now squaring off in a UK courthouse, according to Reuters. Fisher, who served as the band's organ player from 1967 to 1969, is suing Brooker, the band's singer who still tours with Procol Harum. The lawsuit centers on the organ sections of Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale," one of the songs that defined the "Summer of Love" in 1967. Fisher claims he wrote the organ part and is suing Brooker for a share of copyright in the multimillion-selling song. Fisher wants a coauthor credit and a share of the song's copyright and royalties.

Brooker, who is credited as the song's author with lyricist Keith Reid, says the pair wrote the song before Fisher joined the band in March 1967. Defense lawyers said the fact Fisher had waited almost four decades to bring his claim was "bizarre and obviously prejudicial. Mr. Fisher's claim should fail on that ground alone," they said in court papers.

The song, renowned for its mystifying lyrics--beginning "We skipped the light fandango, turned cartwheels cross the floor"--topped the British singles chart for five weeks and was a top 10 hit in the United States. Rolling Stone magazine has ranked it 57th in a list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.