"Elvis" and "Elvis Presley" are registered trademarks with the USPTO. Should individuals be allowed to trademark their names?
(Note: For more cases discussing Publicity Rights and Invasion of Privacy see the Property Cases.)
Major Cases
Elvis Presley Enterprises v. Passport Videos349 F.3d 622 (9th Cir.(Cal.), Nov 06, 2003)
357 F.3d 896 (9th Cir.(Cal.), Feb 06, 2004) (Amended Dissent)
Overview: Various copyright holders sue video company over unauthorized use of copyrighted material in exhaustive 16-hour video documentary of Elvis' life.
Related Items
- Elvis Presley Enterprises, Leiber & Stoller and Sofa Entertainment Win Injunction in Federal Court, Oct 23, 2002 (TheFreeLibrary.com)
- Elvis Case Sets Stage For First Amendment & Copyright Issues, December 19, 2003 (Elvis.com.au)
Elvis Presley Enterprises v. Capece (The "Velvet Elvis" Case)
141 F.3d 188 (5th Cir.(Tex.), May 07, 1998)
950 F. Supp. 783, Dec 30, 1996 (District Court Opinion)
Overview: Assignee and registrant of all trademarks, copyrights, and publicity rights belonging to the Elvis Presley estate sues operators of "The Velvet Elvis" restaurant for trademark infringement and dilution, and violation of its right of publicity in the name of Elvis Presley. The District Court finds for Capece, reversed and remanded on appeal.
Note: There is some wonderful Judicial Humor at the end of the 1996, District Court opinion!
Related Items
- Stepping on Blue Suede Shoes Is Infringement (Case Brief), (South-Western/Thomson: West's Case Updates—Intellectual Property)
- Court Upholds Elvis Presley Estate's Trademark Rights, May 11, 1998 (Memphis Business Journal)
- Don't Be Cruel: Scope of Parody Curtailed in Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. v. Capece, (PDF) Deborah Wright, Sep 23, 2010 (Golden Gate University Law Review, Vol. 29, Issue 3)
Elvis Presley Enterprises v. Elvisly Yours (The American Case)
936 F.2d 889 (6th Cir.(Tenn.), June 27, 1991)
817 F.2d 104 (6th Cir.(Tenn.), Apr 28, 1987)
Overview: Assignee of trademarks of Elvis Presley sues U.K. company selling Elvis Memorabilia for trademark infringement, violations of Tennessee common law, and statutory rights of publicity. Court finds in favor of plaintiff, EPE.
Elvis Presley Enterprises v. Sid Shaw Elvisly Yours (The British Case)
(1999) R.P.C. 567 (Ct. of Appeal, March 12, 1999)
(1997) R.P.C. 543 (High Ct. of Justice, Chancery Div., March 18, 1997)
Overview: When a virtually identical case was held in the U.K., only this time with Elvisly Yours as plaintiff, the court ruled in favor of Elvisly Yours, unlike in the American case.
Related Items
- David Whips Goliath: Elvis Presley Enterprises Loses in Ruling, Mar 19, 1999 (Memphis Business Journal)
- The King and I: The man who fought the Elvis estate - and Won, (Elvisly-Yours.com by permission of Managing Intellectual Property)
- UK ELVIS VICTORY IN COURT 1997 & 1999: Sid Shaw & Leyton Summers, (Video) (ElvisTheTribute, YouTube.com)
Estate of Elvis Presley v. Russen (The "Big El Show" Case)
513 F. Supp. 1339 (D.N.J., Arp 16, 1981
Overview: Estate of Elvis Presley sues Elvis impersonator for trademark infringement, common-law unfair competition, and infringement of right of publicity. This case has a long opinion and discusses the issues in great depth.
Related Items
- Patrick J. Heneghan and Herbert D. Wamsley, The Service Mark Alternative to the Right of Publicity: Estate of Presley v. Russen, 2 Loy. L.A. Ent. L. Rev. 113 (1982).
