slander and libel cases, invasion of privacy, and using someone's name and/or image without consent. The third thing is what is involved here, not privacy or being thrust onto the public scene. I think releaseing two African American dolls around the Inaguration of Barack Obama, the larger of which is named Malia and the smaller of which is named Sasha, is a clear attempt to profit from the images and names of Malia and Sasha Obama. You could not sell an Elvis Presley doll or a Marilyn Monroe doll without the permission of the estate. The fact that the dolls do not look exactly like Malia and Sasha is irrelevant. Most dolls dont look exactly like a human being. It's clear who they are supposed to be and why the company made them at this time and hopes to profit from them.
For example, as to Elvis:
"CKX, Inc. is engaged in the ownership, development and commercial utilization of entertainment content. The Company’s primary assets and operations include the rights to the name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley and the operations of Graceland, the rights to the name, image and likeness of Muhammad Ali and rights to the IDOLS television brand, including the American Idol series in the United States and local adaptations of the IDOLS television show format which, collectively with American Idol, air in over 100 countries around the world. The Company operates through four segments: Presley Business - Royalties and Licensing, Presley Business - Graceland Operations, 19 Entertainment and the Ali Business. On June 1, 2007, the Company acquired 50% of the newly issued common membership interests in FX Luxury Realty, LLC.
Presley Business-Royalties and Licensing
CKX owns co-publishing rights to approximately 650 music compositions, most of which were recorded by Elvis Presley. More than 46% of its publishing income from these compositions originates outside the United States. The Company also owns rights to receive royalties from sales of certain Elvis records. CKX owns the name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley, as well as trademarks in various names and images associated with Elvis. The Company also owns the rights to two of Elvis' television specials: 68 Special (1968) and Aloha From Hawaii (1973).
The Company is entitled to receive participation royalties in 24 of 31 feature films that Elvis starred as an actor. In addition to its own merchandising efforts, its licensing division is charged with the responsibility of protecting and preserving the integrity of Elvis Presley's image, Graceland and other related properties. The Company has over 100 licensing arrangements. Its licensed products and services (and the corresponding licensees) include greeting cards (American Greetings Corporation), slot machines (IGT), satellite radio (Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc.), limited edition wines (Signature Wines), collectible figures (McFarlane Toys), calendars and stationary (Mead Corporation), and coffee (Ugly Mug Coffee Company).
Presley Business-Graceland Operations
CKX operates Graceland, the 13.5-acre estate that served as the primary residence of Elvis Presley from 1957 until his passing in 1977, under the terms of a 90-year lease with The Promenade Trust, under which 87 years remain. The Company owns worldwide rights, title and interest in and to the name Graceland, which name may be used at additional themed locations, as well as in Memphis, Tennessee. Adjacent to the Graceland real property is the Meadow Oaks Apartments, a 270-unit apartment complex that CKX owns and operates as a result of its acquisition of the Presley Business. Adjacent to the mansion and related attractions, the Company has, since 1998, operated Elvis Presley's Heartbreak Hotel, which is marketed primarily to visitors to Graceland. Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel is a 128-room boutique hotel. The hotel had an average occupancy rate of approximately 82% during the year ended December 31, 2007.
CKX owns and operates the official Elvis Presley Website, www.elvis.com. The Website also offers downloads, such as e-cards, games and online tours, as well as direct access to shopelvis.com, the Company’s official online store selling Elvis-branded merchandise.
19 Entertainment
During the year ended December 31, 1998, 19 Entertainment created what was to become the concept for Pop Idol, a televised talent contest for musical artists that allowed the viewing audience to participate in and ultimately select the winning performer via text messaging and telephone voting. The audience participation generates a pre-established market for the winning artists and other finalists who 19 Entertainment then has the right to represent with respect to artist management and merchandising. In the United States and United Kingdom, 19 Entertainment also enters into recording agreements with the winning artists and other finalists. Pop Idol was first broadcast in the United Kingdom in 2001 and in the United States, under the name American Idol in 2002. American Idol and/or local adaptations of the IDOLS television show format collectively air in over 100 countries around the world.
Though 19 Entertainment is a party to a variety of commercial relationships with its television and record label production and distribution partners to produce, broadcast, distribute and finance shows based on the IDOLS brand, 19 Entertainment retains a substantial interest in all aspects of such shows and their multiple revenue streams through its wholly owned operating subsidiaries both in the United States and the United Kingdom. 19 Entertainment continues to represent its historical roster of clients, including Annie Lennox and Cathy Dennis.
19 Entertainment has developed a number of relationships, in which it retains an ownership position and which it expects to result in the creation of valuable properties and projects.19 Entertainment manages Victoria Beckham, a fashion and lifestyle personality, as well as David Beckham, a globally recognized soccer player. 19 Entertainment represents Mr. Beckham in all of his commercial activities, including advertising, sponsorship and endorsement activities. Beckham Brand Limited, together with the Anschutz Entertainment Group, developed and opened The David Beckham Academy in London. The soccer academies feature multiple soccer fields, classrooms, training rooms and other facilities.
Ali Business
The Ali Business consists of the commercial exploitation of the name, image, likeness and intellectual property of Muhammad Ali, primarily through endorsement and licensing arrangements. The primary revenue source comes from licensing Muhammad Ali’s name and likeness for consumer products, commercials and other uses. Licensing revenue is primarily derived from long-term contracts with terms of one to five years. The Ali Business also generates revenue from sports memorabilia signings performed by Mr. Ali.
Morra, Brezner, Steinberg & Tenenbaum Entertainment, Inc.
MBST is a full-service management company with a roster of more than 30 clients, representing an array of Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy winning artists, including Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Woody Allen for more than 25 years each, jazz legend John Pizzarelli for 10 years, and comedian/writer Jeff Ross, comedian Jim Norton, director Bob Weide, each for more than three years. MBST has had an advisory relationship with Apple Corps., the holding corporation for the Beatles, for more than 15 years. MBST also has had a relationship with Alain Boublil, the author of Les Miserables, for more than 15 years. In addition to its management activities, MBST has been responsible for the production of motion pictures and television productions, including Arthur, Good Morning Vietnam, The Vanishing, The Greatest Game Ever Played and Match Point."
http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?rpc=66&symbol=CKXE.O 
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
