LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas chapels of affection that use Elvis Presley’s likeness might discover themselves turning into Heartbreak Accommodations.
The licensing firm that controls the title and picture of “The King” is ordering Sin Metropolis chapel operators to cease utilizing Elvis in themed ceremonies, the Las Vegas Assessment-Journal reported on Monday. Genuine Manufacturers Group despatched cease-and-desist letters in early Could to a number of chapels, that are anticipated to be compliant by now.
With Elvis so intently tied to Vegas’ marriage ceremony trade, some say the transfer might decimate their companies.
“We're a family-run enterprise, and now we’re hanging with the massive canines,” stated Kayla Collins, who operates LasVegasElvisWeddingChapel.com and the Little Chapel of Hearts together with her husband. “That’s our bread and butter. I don’t get it. We have been simply hitting our stride once more by way of COVID, then this occurs.”
Clark County Clerk Lynn Goya, who led a advertising and marketing marketing campaign selling Las Vegas as a marriage vacation spot, stated the order for chapels to cease utilizing Elvis couldn’t have come at a worse time for the sector.
The town’s marriage ceremony trade generates $2 billion a yr, and officers say Elvis-themed weddings signify a big variety of the ceremonies carried out.
“It would destroy a portion of our marriage ceremony trade. Various individuals would possibly lose their livelihood,” Goya stated.
One chapel final weekend had its Elvis impersonator change as an alternative right into a leather-based jacket, denims and a fedora for a “rock ‘n’ roll” themed ceremony, the Assessment-Journal reported.
Graceland Wedding ceremony Chapel, which performs 6,400 Elvis-themed weddings per yr, has not been served a warning but, in response to supervisor Rod Musum.
Genuine Manufacturers Group didn't instantly reply Tuesday to an emailed request for remark.
The licensing firm oversees the estates of huge names like film star Marilyn Monroe and boxer Muhammad Ali and 50 client manufacturers.
Within the cease-and-desist letter, the corporate stated it should halt unauthorized use of “Presley’s title, likeness, voice picture, and different parts of Elvis Presley’s persona in ads, merchandise and in any other case.” The letter additionally stated “Elvis,” “Elvis Presley,” “and “The King of Rock and Roll” are protected logos.
The order mustn't translate into authorized motion in opposition to Elvis-themed stage reveals in Las Vegas equivalent to “All Shook Up” as a result of impersonating somebody for a stay performances like reveals is taken into account an exception underneath Nevada’s proper of publicity regulation, in response to Mark Tratos, an area lawyer who helped write the statute.
“An Elvis present is a performer primarily entertaining others by re-creating that particular person onstage,” Tratos stated.
Kent Ripley, whose enterprise is named Elvis Weddings, stated he has by no means run into this concern in 25 years of performing as Elvis.
“They wish to shield the Elvis model. However what are they defending by taking Elvis away from the general public?” Ripley requested.
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