Feb 9, 2011
Busted: Elvis Presley Enterprises Cracks Whip on Bootleg Ring
Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. has taken legal action to stop the commercial sale and distribution of a DVD/CD set that included recordings and audiovisual footage of Elvis Presley concert performances. Working with a team of investigators, EPE was able to track down the individuals they believe to be behind the release and distribution of the box set.
As of today, EPE has begun action in the Chancery Division of the High Court, England and Wales, against Joseph Pirzada, the alleged source of the infringing materials in the box set.
On February 2, 2011, EPE also filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court, Northern District of Florida, against Bud Glass, an Elvis Presley memorabilia collector, for the alleged illegal sale and distribution of the box set in the United States.
EPE is currently reviewing the evidence and considering filing additional lawsuits against other individuals responsible for the manufacture, sale, and release of this particular box set as well as other bootleg recordings and merchandise.
On February 1, 2011, Elvis Presley Enterprises was also awarded summary judgment against Agostino Carollo (DJ Spankox) in the Chancery Division of the High Court, England and Wales.
In 2009, Carollo requested permission from EPE to create a remix album of Elvis Presley Christmas classics. While the parties had entered into an agreement in 2008 with respect to his first album of Elvis Presley remixes and a follow-up album, EPE advised Carollo in 2009 that it would not support nor endorse such a Christmas remix album. Nevertheless, Carollo released the Christmas remix album, which included EPE’s trademarks, logos, and photographs.
