Chloe Rowland
Las Vegas chapels of love that use Elvis impersonators could soon be given the cold shoulder after a huge shake up from the licensing company that controls the name and image of the King of Rock and Roll.
Raking in more than two million dollars a year, the Sin City wedding business is incredibly lucrative, but it's reportedly being dealt a big blow after Authentic Brands Group sent cease-and-desist letters last month to the operators of several chapels in the area.
The letter says the firm will halt unauthorised use of 'Presley's name, likeness, voice image, and other elements of Elvis Presley's persona in advertisements, merchandise and otherwise', emphasising that 'Elvis', 'Elvis Presley', and 'The King of Rock and Roll' are all protected trademarks.
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There is reportedly one exception to this, however. Elvis-themed stage shows aren't set to face legal action as a result of the move under Nevada's right of publicity law, with Mark Tratos, a local attorney who helped write the statute, explaining: "An Elvis show is a performer essentially entertaining others by recreating that person onstage."
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, chapels are expected to be compliant by now, prompting many to speak out about the devastation it will cause to the industry.
Kayla Collins, who operates LasVegasElvisWeddingChapel.com and the Little Chapel of Hearts with her husband, said: “We are a family-run business, and now we’re hanging with the big dogs.
"That’s our bread and butter. I don’t get it. We were just hitting our stride again through Covid, then this happens."
Meanwhile, Clark County Clerk Lynn Goya, who helmed a marketing campaign promoting Las Vegas as a wedding destination, said the blow couldn't have come at a worse time for the industry, especially since it's only just recovering from the pandemic.
"It might destroy a portion of our wedding industry. A number of people might lose their livelihood," she said.
The Review-Journal reports that the effects are already setting in; just last weekend a chapel swapped out its ceremony to a general 'rock 'n' roll' theme and had its infamous Elvis impersonator change into a leather jacket, jeans and a fedora instead.
However, according to the manager of the big-name Graceland Wedding Chapel, which performs more than 6,000 Elvis-themed weddings a year, has not been served a warning yet.
In a statement to UNILAD, Authentic Brands Group said: "As the guardians of the Elvis Presley estate, it is our responsibility to safeguard his legacy. This includes ensuring that all products, services and advertisements utilising Elvis’ name, image or likeness are officially licensed by Elvis Presley Enterprises.
"The estate has strong relationships with official Elvis tribute artists, fan clubs and festivals, as well as a robust global network of licensed merchandise partners. There is no intention to shut down chapels that offer Elvis packages in Las Vegas. We are seeking to partner with each of these small businesses to ensure that their use of Elvis’ name, image and likeness are officially licensed and authorised by the estate, so they can continue their operations."
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