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Law: Who Can Inherit Fame?

The survivors of celebrities vie for a piece of the pie

"Since you're go-o-o-o-ne I got a mess of blues," wailed Elvis Presley in a 1960 hit. But now that Elvis is gone, it is judges who have a mess of the blues. They are struggling to decide whether the rights to capitalize on Presley's fame died with him. At stake are millions of dollars in royalties from the sales of T shirts, posters and other memorabilia featuring the former King of Rock 'n' Roll.

Presley is by no means the only departed celebrity whose ongoing...

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