An Emmy Award won by Whitney Houston 30 years ago is the focus of a legal fight.

The Television Academy filed a lawsuit to block an auction house and the late pop star’s estate from selling her trophy.

Whitney Houston.
(Mark Lennihan/AP)

According to the lawsuit, Emmy statuettes remain the property of the Television Academy and any sale violates the organisation’s rights.

Greg Rohan, president of Heritage Auctions, said the academy’s action is without merit and ignores precedent.

He said the Emmy trophy was consigned to its auction by Whitney’s family and is being sold online for a starting bid of £6,700.

Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown
(William Conran/PA)

Whitney won it in 1986 for a Grammy performance.

The Television Academy also filed a request for a temporary restraining order to halt the auction.

The academy declined to comment Wednesday on the pending litigation, a spokesman said.