Las Vegas Wedding Services Warned Against Unapproved Use of Elvis’ Name

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Las Vegas Wedding Services Warned Against Unapproved Use of Elvis’ Name

A company that controls the name and image of Elvis Presley has warned wedding service companies in Las Vegas not to hold ceremonies centered around the singer.

The licensing¹ company, Authentic² Brands Group, has sent cease-and-desist letters to several wedding chapels⁴, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. A cease-and-desist order is a legally enforceable order from a court or government agency that directs a person or organization to stop an activity.

The letter states that the company will no longer permit unapproved use of Presley's name, likeness⁵, voice image or other materials related to the music star. The letter also said that "Elvis," "Elvis Presley," and "The King of Rock and Roll" are legally protected names.

Las Vegas, Nevada is a popular place for people to get married. And many wedding service companies in the city offer Elvis-themed ceremonies. Some companies say removing Elvis elements from their offerings will greatly harm their business.

Kayla Collins operates LasVegasElvisWeddingChapel.com and the Little Chapel³ of Hearts with her husband. "That's our bread and butter," she told The Associated Press. "I don't get it. We were just hitting our stride⁶ again through COVID, then this happens." To "hit one's stride" means to begin doing something effectively again after a slow start.

Lynn Goya is a local official who has led marketing⁷ campaigns that sought to position Las Vegas as a wedding center. She said the order for chapels to stop using Elvis elements could not have come at a worse time. The city has suffered from a lack of visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The city's wedding industry brings in about $2 billion a year. Officials say many wedding ceremonies have Elvis themes. "It might destroy a portion of our wedding industry, Goya said. "A number of people might lose their livelihood⁸."

In a recent statement, Authentic Brands Group said it has strong relationships with Elvis performing artists and fan festivals. The company added that it does not want to close all chapels offering Elvis-themed ceremonies 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 licensed¹⁰ and authorized¹²..." Authentic Brands Group said.

The company also oversees¹³ licensing issues for big names like movie star Marilyn Monroe and boxer¹⁴ Muhammad Ali.

Presley has longstanding ties to Las Vegas. His 1964 movie, Viva Las Vegas, led to a music hit of the same name that became the city's unofficial theme.

In July of 1969, the star redefined Las Vegas residency shows with live performances at the Las Vegas International Hotel. The show was supposed to last only four weeks. But it ended up continuing for more than 600 shows. It ended in December 1976.

Presley himself got married in Las Vegas in 1967 to his wife Priscilla.

Kent Ripley owns a business called Elvis Weddings. He said he has never had to deal with this kind of issue during his 25 years performing as Elvis. "They want to protect the Elvis brand," Ripley said. "But what are they protecting by taking Elvis away from the public?"

Words in This Story

license⁹ – v. to give someone official permission to do or have something

chapel – n. a small church or room used as a church in a building

theme – n. the subject of a book, film, event, etc.

bread and butter – n. a job or activity that provides a person with enough money to live on

livelihood – n. the way someone earns their money

authorize¹¹ – v. to give permission for something to happen

residency – n. a long period of time when an artist performs in one place instead of touring from place to place

brand – n. a kind of product made by a particular company and sold under a particular name

1 licensing   

v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• A large part of state regulation consists of occupational licensing. 大部分州的管理涉及行业的特许批准。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• That licensing procedures for projects would move faster. 这样的工程批准程序一定会加快。 来自辞典例句

2 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

3 chapel   

n.小教堂，殡仪馆

参考例句：

• The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
• She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午，她在小教堂的演出，可以说是登峰造极。

4 chapels   

n.小教堂， （医院、监狱等的）附属礼拜堂( chapel的名词复数 )；（在小教堂和附属礼拜堂举行的）礼拜仪式

参考例句：

• Both castles had their own chapels too, which was incredible to see. 两个城堡都有自己的礼拜堂，非常华美。 来自互联网
• It has an ambulatory and seven chapels. 它有一条走廊和七个小教堂。 来自互联网

5 likeness   

n.相像，相似（之处）

参考例句：

• I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。
• She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。

6 stride   

vi.大踏步走，阔步行进；n.大步，步态

参考例句：

• In a big stride he came out of the room.他一个箭步出了房间。
• The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。

7 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

8 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

9 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

10 licensed   

adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The new drug has not yet been licensed in the US. 这种新药尚未在美国获得许可。
• Is that gun licensed? 那支枪有持枪执照吗？

11 authorize   

v.授权，委任；批准，认可

参考例句：

• He said that he needed to get his supervisor to authorize my refund.他说必须让主管人员批准我的退款。
• Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb.只有总统才能授权使用原子弹。

12 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

13 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

14 boxer   

n.制箱者，拳击手

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.他像拳击手一样踮着脚轻盈移动。