Las Vegas chapels of love that use Elvis PresleyB次元官网网址檚 likeness could find themselves becoming Heartbreak Hotels.
The licensing company that controls the name and image of B次元官网网址淭he KingB次元官网网址� is ordering Sin City chapel operators to stop using Elvis in themed ceremonies, . Authentic Brands Group sent cease-and-desist letters in early May to multiple chapels, which are expected to be compliant by now.
With Elvis so closely tied to VegasB次元官网网址� wedding industry, some say the move could decimate their businesses.
B次元官网网址淲e are a family-run business, and now weB次元官网网址檙e hanging with the big dogs,B次元官网网址� said Kayla Collins, who operates LasVegasElvisWeddingChapel.com and the Little Chapel of Hearts with her husband. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 our bread and butter. I donB次元官网网址檛 get it. We were just hitting our stride again through COVID, then this happens.B次元官网网址�
Clark County Clerk Lynn Goya, who led a marketing campaign promoting Las Vegas as a wedding destination, said the order for chapels to stop using Elvis couldnB次元官网网址檛 have come at a worse time for the sector.
The cityB次元官网网址檚 wedding industry generates $2 billion a year, and officials say Elvis-themed weddings represent a significant number of the ceremonies performed.
B次元官网网址淚t might destroy a portion of our wedding industry. A number of people might lose their livelihood,B次元官网网址� Goya said.
One chapel last weekend had its Elvis impersonator change instead into a leather jacket, jeans and a fedora for a B次元官网网址渞ock B次元官网网址榥B次元官网网址� rollB次元官网网址� themed ceremony, the Review-Journal reported.
Graceland Wedding Chapel, which performs 6,400 Elvis-themed weddings per year, has not been served a warning yet, according to manager Rod Musum.
In the cease-and-desist letter, the company said it will halt unauthorized use of B次元官网网址淧resleyB次元官网网址檚 name, likeness, voice image, and other elements of Elvis PresleyB次元官网网址檚 persona in advertisements, merchandise and otherwise.B次元官网网址� The letter also said B次元官网网址淓lvis,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淓lvis Presley,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渁nd B次元官网网址淭he King of Rock and RollB次元官网网址� are protected trademarks.
In a statement Wednesday, Authentic Brands Group said it has strong relationships with Elvis tribute artists and fan festivals. There is B次元官网网址渘o intention to shut down chapels that offer Elvis packages in Las Vegas.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e are seeking to partner with each of these small businesses to ensure that their use of ElvisB次元官网网址� name, image and likeness are officially licensed and authorized by the estate, so they can continue their operations,B次元官网网址� Authentic Brands Group said. B次元官网网址淓lvis is embedded into the fabric of Las Vegas history.B次元官网网址�
The licensing company oversees the estates of big names like movie star Marilyn Monroe and boxer Muhammad Ali and 50 consumer brands.
The order should not translate into legal action against Elvis-themed stage shows in Las Vegas such as B次元官网网址淎ll Shook UpB次元官网网址� because impersonating someone for live performances such as shows is considered an exception under NevadaB次元官网网址檚 right of publicity law, according to Mark Tratos, a local attorney who helped write the statute.
B次元官网网址淎n Elvis show is a performer essentially entertaining others by re-creating that person onstage,B次元官网网址� Tratos said.
Presley became indelibly linked to Sin City in the B次元官网网址�60s and B次元官网网址�70s. His 1964 movie, B次元官网网址淰iva Las Vegas,B次元官网网址� yielded a title track that became the cityB次元官网网址檚 unofficial theme. In July 1969, Presley famously redefined the Vegas residency with his live stage comeback at the Las Vegas International Hotel. What started as a four-week gig turned into more than 600 shows and lasted until December 1976.
Presley himself got married in Las Vegas in 1967 to wife Priscilla, cementing his association with Vegas weddings.
Kent Ripley, whose business is called Elvis Weddings, said he has never run into this issue in 25 years of performing as Elvis.
B次元官网网址淭hey want to protect the Elvis brand. But what are they protecting by taking Elvis away from the public?B次元官网网址� Ripley asked.
