The Man In Black v. Coca Cola: The New Soundalike Showdown

Did Coca-Cola cross the line by using a Johnny Cash soundalike in its nationwide “Fan Work is Thirsty Work” campaign? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin attorneys Scott Hervey and Richard D. Buckley, Jr. unpack the Cash estate’s lawsuit and what it reveals about the evolving law of soundalikes.

In this episode, they cover:

How Tennessee’s new Elvis Act expands protection for voices and vocal imitation
Why the Cash estate is also asserting a Lanham Act false endorsement claim
How Midler v. Ford and Waits v. Frito-Lay continue to shape soundalike disputes
The line between imitating a musical “style” and misappropriating a distinctive voice
What brands and agencies should consider before using tribute artists or AI vocals

Tune in for a clear look at where right of publicity, soundalike law, and advertising practice collide.

The Briefing from the IP Law Blog and The IP Law Blog are publications of Weintraub Tobin (www.weintraub.com). The Intellectual Property Law Blog provides insight in connection with copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, false advertising, licensing and promotions, and sweepstakes. The blog’s objective is to serve as a forum to discuss IP strategies that provide protection to businesses’ or persons’ intangible assets. The blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.