Glenn Miller was a musician who died in a plane crash. Glenn Miller Productions, Inc. (GMP) was established as a business to continue performances of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Glenn Miller’s name and likeness was licensed to GMP. Later, “Glenn Miller Orchestra” became a registered trademark. GMP sublicensed to third parties the right to operate orchestras named the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Miller’s heirs filed suit challenging GMP’s ability to sublicense the trademark without their express permission.
The court ruling gives trademark holders the ability to control unwanted sublicenses of its publicity and trademark rights and prevent undesirable uses of likeness, including those injurious to image.
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