Elvis estate blocks Vegas wedding venues from using an Elvis lookalike
Elvis has left the wedding buildings of Vegas...
Wedding chapels in Vegas are now blocked from using Elvis Presley likenesses in wedding ceremonies. This was brought forward by the estate that handles Elvis-related merchandise. As a result of this, the Las Vegas tourist industry is taking a pretty huge hit.
Authentic Brands Group (ABG), the company that oversees all Elvis-related merchandise, sent cease-and-desist letters to multiple Vegas chapels back in May.
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They argued that the unauthorised use of Presley’s name, likeness, voice image, and other elements constitute trademark infringement.
The Las Vegas wedding industry generates $2-billion a year and an Elvis-themed wedding is extremely popular. Naturally, these cease-and-desist orders have worried many of Vegas’ wedding chapels.
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There is a concern that the orders would negatively affect employees’ livelihoods. Mark Tratos, an attorney who helped write ABG’s cease-and-desist letters, highlighted that Elvis-themed stage shows should not be affected by the order.
This is because impersonations within live shows are protected under Vegas' “right of publicity” statute.
