Michael Jackson's forthcoming album includes several "fake" songs, his mother has reportedly claimed. Due on 14 December, Michael is the first posthumous collection of unreleased Jackson songs; but Katherine Jackson is reportedly disappointed with the compilation, claiming some of the singer's former associates gave his label "false tracks".

Today is a big day for Jackson fans. Sony has released Breaking News, the first single from the album, and Oprah will air her exclusive interview with Jackson's children and mother. According to a report by Canada's CTV News, Katherine will say in the interview that "some of the tracks on the album are fake". The songs in question were apparently recorded in 2007, while Michael was living in New Jersey with his friends the Cascio family. "[Katherine] says the Cascios have added some things and given the Sony corporation false tracks," reporter Diane Dimond said. Jackson's father, Joseph, and his children, Paris and Prince, also claim it is not always Michael's singing voice.

If that weren't strange enough, Katherine herself has been implicated in a separate "fake" Michael Jackson release. On Friday, the website Jackson's Secret Vault posted a song called Opis None, described as an "authentic, unreleased MJ track for the fans ... With L.O.V.E. from Mrs [Katherine] Jackson." In a statement to TMZ, the website called it "an effort to overcome the confusion as to the authenticity of [the estate's new songs]" and "give an actual authentic Michael Jackson track to the world for free". You can hear the song here.

But this track, a dire cut'n'paste dance tune, was quickly identified by fans as a remix of the 1978 Jackson Five song, Destiny. And Katherine's granddaughter, Taj, wrote on Twitter that her "grandma ... didn't even know about the 'song', nor did she authorise it".

However, this isn't the case of some random blogger making up a Michael Jackson song. Jackson's Secret Vault is the publisher of Katherine's new book, which she is promoting on Oprah. Katherine is a business partner of the owner, Howard Mann, who acquired a warehouse of rare Jackson memorabilia prior to the singer's death. This relationship isn't something Michael's executors are enthusiastic about: "[Mann] may be using his relationship with [Katherine] Jackson to infringe upon Michael Jackson's copyrights, to the detriment of, among others, Michael's three kids," estate lawyer Howard Weitzman said in June.

In response to the criticism, Jackson's Secret Vault has changed the description of Opis None, now calling it "a dance remake created from unreleased masters". "This track was NOT released by Mrs Jackson," it said, in a complete reversal. "We sincerely apologise to the fans for any confusion."

Finally, there's been one last bit of Michael Jackson-related chicanery, this time aimed at Sony Music. Eagle-eyed observers of the new album cover, painted by Kadir Nelson, noticed a tiny Prince symbol hidden on its right side (floating near his pet tiger's left ear). In the images posted to Sony's official Michael Jackson store, the icon has vanished. "No permission [to use the trademark] was granted," Prince's management explained to the blog Dr Funkenberry. "Sony Entertainment has removed the symbol."

Such a mess.

Maybe 8% of the song are his vocals? Theres definitely a imitator on this track.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the last thing ever released under his name should have been This Is It..

Oprah's on now, so I'm anxious to hear what she has to say on the issue

Guys, even though some of the songs are fake, you should still buy it and support it. I mean, this was done to support his kids. Regardless of how accurate it may be, if you love and support Michael, you will buy this album.

To support his kids? Please, each of them is 10 times more wealthy than all of us here combined. Why should I "support" them? If I buy music, it's because I like it. And there's nothing to like about this project so far.

Michael's back catalog sells well enough to support his kids for eternity.

I don't doubt that some of the songs are 100% him. The family isn't opposed to the whole album, just certain tracks. I still can't say that I definitely won't buy the album. Depends on what else is on it.

Nothing involving MJ is ever straightforward. So annoying.

We the fans are so mad at $ony!

How would Michael's family know every single song Michael recorded? He was a recluse and hardly ever talked to them, let alone let them listen to everything he's ever recorded....

I agree. I don't trust his family. I think they're just mad because they don't had control of the estate, so they want to sabotage the project.

I don't think Breaking News is MJ though (or at the very least, it's not 100% MJ), but that doesn't say anything about the rest of the songs.

I don't care about the family i just trust myself...i'm sure the fans know his voice (singing voice) better that his family, includings his kids.

I personally find it disgusting that people are trying to make money off of him.

Releasing material for the fans is one thing but this...no.

I like you but that is an incredibly delusional post.

You seriously think you know him better and love his music more than his own family?

yes i hope people read this and dont buy it but shift over and pickup basic instinct