Unreleased Michael Jackson songs reportedly hacked

(CBS/AP) LONDON - Unreleased Michael Jackson songs may have landed in the wrong hands. Computer hackers allegedly swiped a large number of Jackson music files, a person familiar with the case said on Monday.

A year after the King of Pop's 2009 death, Sony inked a 7-year deal with his estate, worth up to $250 million, with the plan to sell multiple albums of Jackson's unreleased recordings and back catalogue.

Sony Music Entertainment spokeswoman Liz Young said the company noticed a breach of its systems in May, "and immediately took steps to secure the site and notify authorities. As a result, the two suspects were arrested." They were charged in September with computer misuse and copyright offenses.

Sony would not confirm how much music was stolen or what artists were involved. But a person familiar with the situation said the suspects were Jackson fans and had taken his music, including unreleased material.

James Marks, 26, and James McCormick, 25, appeared at Leicester Crown Court in central England on Friday and pleaded not guilty. They were freed on bail and are due to stand trial in January.