5 ms·

Then how are Elvis impersonators not a copyright violation?

by btilly 7y ago

sbarre 7y ago
They might be, but they're so small-time that it's not worth pursuing. If an Elvis impersonator started to become famous or successful and popular, you can bet the EP estate would be in touch.
ashtonkem 7y ago
Or cover bands, for that matter.
- paypalcust83 7y ago
  TBH, I saw an AC/DC cover band in a backwater Wichita Falls, Texas bar that was way better than the original. They were far, far nuttier animals and absolutely mad.
  - Smoosh 7y ago
    Hey, AC/DC were young once. Their lead singer died from partying too hard ffs.
    - paypalcust83 7y ago
      I saw AC/DC in concert too. These guys were naked, doing backflips, bouncing off the walls, and breaking shit. Unless you're a sick puppy, hard living doesn't translate to entertainment value. I don't condone or value anyone's recreational extremophilia and I think your one-sided white-knighting is off-base.
      - jerrysievert 7y ago
        that sounds an awful lot like The Impotent Sea Snakes - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impotent_Sea_Snakes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impotent_Sea_Snakes
        paypalcust83 7y ago
        Not exactly. They were in the spirit of and homage to the original. They might not have been original but they brought the house down.
- acomjean 7y ago
  Cover Bands do pay a royalty. It not much if I recall (Last century a housemate was a former Rush Cover band member...) But I'm wondering who Dread Zeppelin pays.... (a mash up of Elvis and Led Zeppelin with a reggae beat, which oddly works better than you would expect.. for a little while)
- bsder 7y ago
  I believe cover bands can actually be in violation of copyright. It depends upon how you do it. If you cover the song, then that's one copyright. However, if you hire a bunch of people because they actually look and sound like the original band, that's a completely different copyright.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
Broken_Hippo 7y ago
When you see an Elvis impersonator, do you think it is Elvis? Probably not. Elvis is dead. If you heard an Elvis song in the background of an advertisement, would you assume it is actually Elvis? Probably, unless the ad was featuring impersonators.
echelon 7y ago
Or Elvis' hypothetical twin brother. Or clone. Or close genetic laryngeal relatives.

Then how are Elvis impersonators not a copyright violation?

by btilly 7y ago

Then how are Elvis impersonators not a copyright violation?

They might be, but they're so small-time that it's not worth pursuing. If an Elvis impersonator started to become famous or successful and popular, you can bet the EP estate would be in touch.

ashtonkem 7y ago

Or cover bands, for that matter.

paypalcust83 7y ago
TBH, I saw an AC/DC cover band in a backwater Wichita Falls, Texas bar that was way better than the original. They were far, far nuttier animals and absolutely mad.
- Smoosh 7y ago
  Hey, AC/DC were young once. Their lead singer died from partying too hard ffs.
  - paypalcust83 7y ago
    I saw AC/DC in concert too. These guys were naked, doing backflips, bouncing off the walls, and breaking shit. Unless you're a sick puppy, hard living doesn't translate to entertainment value. I don't condone or value anyone's recreational extremophilia and I think your one-sided white-knighting is off-base.
    - jerrysievert 7y ago
      that sounds an awful lot like The Impotent Sea Snakes - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impotent_Sea_Snakes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impotent_Sea_Snakes
      - paypalcust83 7y ago
        Not exactly. They were in the spirit of and homage to the original. They might not have been original but they brought the house down.
acomjean 7y ago
Cover Bands do pay a royalty. It not much if I recall (Last century a housemate was a former Rush Cover band member...) But I'm wondering who Dread Zeppelin pays.... (a mash up of Elvis and Led Zeppelin with a reggae beat, which oddly works better than you would expect.. for a little while)
bsder 7y ago
I believe cover bands can actually be in violation of copyright. It depends upon how you do it. If you cover the song, then that's one copyright. However, if you hire a bunch of people because they actually look and sound like the original band, that's a completely different copyright.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]

Broken_Hippo 7y ago

When you see an Elvis impersonator, do you think it is Elvis? Probably not. Elvis is dead. If you heard an Elvis song in the background of an advertisement, would you assume it is actually Elvis? Probably, unless the ad was featuring impersonators.

echelon 7y ago

Or Elvis' hypothetical twin brother. Or clone. Or close genetic laryngeal relatives.