A musical group promoting itself as The Platters in Las Vegas has become the target of a commercial litigation lawsuit. An original member of the band is accusing the group of trademark infringement. The suit was filed during the first week in April, with the original band member suing the musical group, the company that manages its performances, and an individual official with the company.
The target of the action is a counterfeit Platters group that has been booked at the Crown Theater in the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas. The group has been performing alongside other period acts, including Cornell Gunter’s Coasters and the Marvelettes.
This case is the latest in a string of trademark lawsuits that have been filed throughout the U.S. in relation to the rights for The Platters’ name. The group, which was popular during the 1950s, is known for several hits including “Only You,” “The Great Pretender” and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.”
The legal actions that have been filed during the past decades have become increasingly complicated because members of The Platters came and went throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Some of these members surrendered their ownership rights to a variety of corporate entities throughout the nation, though some of these assignments were later discovered to be fraudulent. Spinoff groups further complicated the issue.
The man bringing the lawsuit is the only surviving original member of the group originally named The Platters. He has earned royalty payments from the sale of the band’s music, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The man has been attempting to stop performances by other groups that compete with his touring musical act. The man stated in the most recent suit that a Las Vegas judge had confirmed his superior rights to The Platters name.
Source: VEGAS INC, “Lawsuit claims Platters group at the Rio is a counterfeit,” Steve Green, April 5, 2012
