Can a person's name be copyrighted?

[Alive_At_Both_Ends]

@acsenray

I haven’t heard of any, but even if the Presley estate had objected, they would have had no case, no more than Lou Costello’s estate would.

I’m not so sure about that. Admittedly he doesn’t call himself “Elvis Presley”, but then again, “Elvis” by itself is also a trademark of Elvis Presley Enterprises. And this Google Books page claims that they sued a nightclub for using “Elvis” as part of its name. (The reference is at the bottom of the displayed page).

[Acsenray]

@Alive At Both Ends

I’m not so sure about that. Admittedly he doesn’t call himself “Elvis Presley”, but then again, “Elvis” by itself is also a trademark of Elvis Presley Enterprises. And this Google Books page claims that they sued a nightclub for using “Elvis” as part of its name. (The reference is at the bottom of the displayed page).

Again:

(1) “Armed Forces / Elvis Costello and the Attractions” on the cover of an album is not a trademark use. It is merely use of a name (albeit an assumed one) as a name. The nightclub situation is, however, a trademark use.

(2) I would be very surprised if any court concluded that a use like “Armed Forces / Elvis Costello and the Attractions” had created a likelihood of confusion with “Elvis” or “Elvis Presley.” It’s just too obvious that “Elvis Costello” is not the same person as “Elvis (Presley).” In the likelihood of confusion test, a court would take into account the fact are other people named “Elvis” and that everyone knows that there can be other people named “Elvis,” especially when used with a family name.