Last August, an ad aired featuring an artist who sounded like the late Johnny Cash. Now, the late musician’s estate is suing the Coca-Cola for doing it without their permission.
Under the ELVIS Act, the complaint was filed in Nashville, which accuses the company of “pirating Johnny Cash’s voice in a nationwide advertising campaign to enrich itself – without asking for permission or providing any compensation.”
It continues, “Stealing the voice of an artist is theft. It is theft of his integrity, identity, and humanity.”
“The trust brings this lawsuit to protect the voice of Johnny Cash – and to send a message that protects the voice of all of the artists whose music enriches our lives.”
In the complaint, there is also a reference to a 1988 ruling, Midler v. Ford Motor Co., in which the actress Bette Midler won against the automaker on an allegation similarly levelled by Johnny Cash’s estate against the beverage company.
Moreover, the estate has asked the court to block Coca-Cola, which has yet to comment on the issue, from running the ad.
It is worth noting that Shawn Barker was the singer featured in the ad who impersonated Johnny, who died in 2003. He wa 71.
