Elvis Presley’s widow Priscilla Presley has made various statements on the Genuine Manufacturers Group (ABG) initiative to have Las Vegas marriage ceremony chapels pay partnership charges for utilizing his persona. She admits there was “confusion” concerning the transfer. She additionally stated it “has nothing to do with me,” TMZ reported.
“This can be a good factor,” Priscilla Presley stated in a textual content message Saturday quoted by the Las Vegas Assessment-Journal. That could be her newest commnent.
ABG is the guardian of the Elvis Presley legacy, as is the household,” Priscilla Presley defined. “They and the household are dedicated to defending it for generations to come back.”
ABG is a licensing firm which represents Presley’s property and the estates of many different celebrities.
“ABG is sorry that latest communication with a small variety of Las Vegas-based chapels brought on confusion and concern. That was by no means ABG’s intention,” she added.
In 2013, ABG acquired the controlling curiosity in Elvis Presley Enterprises. Daughter Lisa Marie Presley owns 15 p.c of the corporate. She is a “marketing consultant” on selections associated to Elvis, the Assessment-Journal stated.
It was on Could 19, ABG despatched stop and desist (C&D) letters to lots of Las Vegas’ over 50 marriage ceremony chapels. Within the letters, ABG orders the chapels to cease utilizing Presley’s “identify, likeness, voice, picture, and different parts of Elvis Presley’s persona in ads, merchandise, and in any other case,” the Assessment-Journal reported, citing the C&D letter.
Courtroom motion might comply with if the chapels fail to comply with the order. Final week, the corporate backtracked when clarifying their calls for. Now, they’re saying they’re prepared to enter into licensing partnerships. However marriage ceremony chapel homeowners say they can’t afford costly charges, since many are small, impartial companies.
Vary of Reported Charges
There have been conflicting stories simply how a lot the corporate needs from the chapels for the licensing agreements. One firm stated final week ABG needs $20,000 a 12 months. The Assessment-Journal reported it may very well be an quantity lower than $1,000.
On line casino.org reached out to ABG for remark. No assertion was offered.
In a press release printed by The Guardian, ABG stated there was “no intention to close down chapels that provide Elvis packages in Las Vegas.”
We’re in search of to accomplice with every of those small companies to make sure that their use of Elvis’ identify, picture and likeness are formally licensed and approved by the property, to allow them to proceed their operations,” the assertion stated.
Las Vegas, County Officers Involved
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman is amongst those that criticized ABG for cracking down on the marriage chapels which carry out the Elvis Presley-themed ceremonies.
I’ve been very upset by what this might imply to our marriage enterprise in Las Vegas,” Goodman informed the Assessment-Journal. “I really feel this firm couldn’t care much less concerning the impression this could have on our metropolis.”
Goodman and ABG officers are anticipated to debate the problem in a cellphone assembly on Monday, the newspaper reported.
Wedding ceremony chapel homeowners level out that lots of those that head to Las Vegas for a Presley-themed marriage ceremony will keep in native motels, could go to casinos, and go to reveals. They generate cash for the native economic system.
General, Las Vegas vacation spot marriage ceremony ceremonies are a big a part of the state’s tourism sector. All the marriage ceremony business produces $2 billion a 12 months. Clark County issued its five-millionth marriage ceremony license in February.
Clark County Clerk Lynn Goya has warned the brand new crackdown might destroy a portion of the marriage business. It might additionally result in misplaced jobs.