Suit filed by EPE-Elvis unjustly exploited by label

[KPM]

http://www.billboard.com/#/news/elvi...05337982.story
This may not change the 1973 deal Parker orchestrated with RCA-but it will draw a line for things such as ringtones, online music sales, etc.....

[Jungleroom76]

Thanks for the article Ken!!

It will definitely be interesting to see how this turns out! I truly believe RCA should be responsible to some degree, although they were just taking advantage of a lucrative business decision on their part by accepting the terms of the infamous 1973 buyout. Unfortunately the person who SHOULD be sued isn't alive anymore...

TCB!
Mike

[vivaelvis]

This lawsuit has apparently been in the works for years now. They should come out good with this. Even an out of court settlement would be worth millions to the estate. But, if they win their case then they could end up receiving a fortune in return revenue. That could be what they need to get some things (projects) off the ground. I know $55 million is a lot to everyday people like us, but to a corporate business it's not much at all when you have so many expenses to deal with.

[monk37]

I imagine that this would be part of how they are addressing Elvis' Forbes rating - after all, they make what they do on Graceland, merchandise and licensing - they don't make much from the sales because of that 1973 sale.

which makes Elvis' achievement even more impressive, that it's not inclusive of the most valuable part of his money generation.

[KPM]

$55 million is a lot!
Why spend-$100 million in 2004 plus corporate stock for "85% of image rights with no tangible property truely being acquired- only leased"...if the profit picture was not a good solid proposition that deal would have never happened?
Elvis has always sold.

[1100ccRider]

Of course he was and is unjustly exploited by his label (though, luckily, not as badly as are many).

But he's also unjustly exploited by his Estate. Seriously...anyone else recall when they went about putting everyone out of business because they wanted to rid the world of 'tacky' souvenirs and the like? Yeah, right.

[vivaelvis]

They didn't start suing people left and right until the economy got bad and they needed money. Had that never had happened EPE couldn't have cared less that Elvis was being exploited. They're trying to act like they actually care about the image when all they care about is the money he makes the company.

[KPM]

They didn't start suing people left and right until the economy got bad and they needed money. Had that never had happened EPE couldn't have cared less that Elvis was being exploited. They're trying to act like they actually care about the image when all they care about is the money he makes the company.

Its funny $55 million is a tidy sum for someone who has been dead for 34 years, yet you say they need money?
They have systematically since day one been working toward making sure that the feeding frenzy which occured after August 16th of 77 by unscrupulious people-would never happen again.
Knowing they did not own most of Elvis's music, none of his motion pictures that left one avenue of income which secured the future for Lisa and future Presley generations the likeness and image (EXACTLY PRECISELY what the will asked of the estate executors and probate judge secure the estate financially for his heirs that was their job as the probate judge made sure happened)
They began to make legal history by securing the image and likeness of Elvis (or any dead celebrity) as the sole property of the family.
It took a few years to get this done successfully, and it took many years to put people on notice that you can not use Elvis' to promote a product without legal trouble. The business of the internet sales of bootleg cds or fan movies was a much tougher thing to fight-and they have set back and slowly built their case against individuals who are making a nice prophet-because the videos or cds are of ELVIS PRESLEY.
Lets face it Elvis's likeness, his performances sell these videos and not one dime goes into the estate of Elvis.
Elvis wanted and directed that his estate be kept solvent-and that has been done, without question.
EPE may not be liked by many-I do not even like some of what they have done-but they are far from the enemy to Lisa......they did what Elvis ordered to be done-they grew and protected the estate.
Elvis lived a certain way, he did what he wanted when he wanted-and he wanted his daughter to be as well off as he was-today she is financially better off than Elvis when he was alive and actually performing.
I am a father-and as a father I know that the dream of all dads is that his kids have no worries financially after you are gone-so his dream was fulfilled.