Beskyt Graceland Randers Navnet!

(Scroll down to find the English version of the petition.)

Så er "den lille mand", igen blevet kastet i kamp imod Goliat, som Mac Allan-sagen og sagen om Jensens Fiskerestaurant. Forleden blev det offentliggjort, at Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) i Memphis, sagsøger Henrik Knudsen (ophavsmanden bag Elvis hyldest museum i Randers) for 1,5 millioner danske kroner. Sagen får sin dag i Sø- og Handelsretten d.13-14. januar 2016. Inden da vil jeg gerne vise min opbakning til Henrik Knudsen og hans livsværk, som siden sin opførsel for fire år siden er blevet kendt og elsket som Graceland Randers af Elvis fans i Danmark og over hele kloden. Jeg håber også, at du som læser dette vil vise Henrik din opbakning - han fortjener ikke at blive trukket igennem dette cirkus. Jeg ved, at Henrik er ked af det og rystet over at det er kommet så vidt.

Henrik er blevet sagsøgt, fordi EPE mener at han har krænket og brugt Graceland navnet uretmæssigt i forbindelse med sin 25 år lange drøm om at skabe et sted i Elvis’ ånd og hvor han kan fremvise sin omfattende samling af originale Elvis effekter. Dette undrer både Graceland Randers, men i høj grad også mange af os Elvis fans, der holder meget af det sted, som Henrik har skabt for os alle. Inden Graceland Randers blev opført i 2011 blev navnet Graceland Randers indsendt til godkendelse i 2006. Sagen blev dengang kørt i Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen og navnet Graceland Randers blev registreret som varemærke den 14. april 2006.

På dette tidspunkt var der ingen konkrete indsigelser omkring navnet fra EPE's side, kun vage forespørgsler om navneændring. Dog gjorde de aldrig brug af den indsigelsesfrist, der er i sådanne patent/varemærkesager. Først nu, fire år senere, er der kommet en konkret retssag ud af det. Selv ikke dem der har arbejdet for Elvis (musikere, bodyguards og venner), der i årenes løb har besøgt Graceland Randers, har haft nogle indsigelser omkring navnet. I stedet har de bakket op om stedet og det Henrik gør for Elvis' eftermæle. Denne sag lugter langt væk af en stor grådig pengemaskine, som vil ramme Graceland Randers, der hvor det gør mest ondt - på pengepungen.

Henrik har opført Graceland Randers for at vise sin dedikation til og entusiasme for Elvis. Og for at give Elvis fans i Danmark og Europa m.v. et sted, hvor de kan mødes og snakke om Elvis, og måske få en god bid mad med smag af Amerika i Highway 51 Diner’en, som også er en del af Graceland Randers. Ja, i korte træk for at hylde verdens største sanger og entertainer nogensinde, Elvis Aron Presley. Ikke for at konkurrere med Graceland i Memphis, hvor Elvis boede, og hvor folk nu valfarter til for at opleve Elvis’ ånd, som stadig er i live der. For det ville aldrig nogensinde være muligt at genskabe den magiske oplevelse det er at stå ved Graceland i Memphis. Og, det har aldrig været Henriks mål at gøre dette.

Og, det er netop det, der i mine øjne gør denne sag helt vanvittig. For Graceland Randers er ikke skabt for at konkurrere med Graceland i Memphis. Det er derimod skabt for at samle interessen og passionen for manden, sangeren og legenden Elvis Aron Presley i Danmark. Vi fans har fået et sted, som vi nu kender og elsker som Graceland Randers. Et sted hvor vi kan mødes, og et sted der tænder op under flammen og håbet om at deltage i en af de utallige "pilgrimsrejser", som Henrik arrangerer for at give fans muligheden for at besøge og/eller genbesøge Graceland i Memphis. 

Henrik har formået at skabe nogle rammer for os Elvis fans i Danmark, hvori vi kan mødes, føle os velkommen og hjemme, når vi besøger stedet. Et Elvis Museum, som han har valgt at kalde Graceland Randers. Her kan vi holde Elvis' ånd i live og møde nogle af de folk, som har arbejdet for og med Elvis igennem hans livslange karriere som verdens største entertainer. Personligt kender jeg ikke noget andet menneske end Henrik Knudsen, der har gjort mere for at holde interessen for Elvis i live for de fans, der higer efter noget lokalt i Danmark at mødes omkring.

Det er derfor jeg beder til, at EPE trækker denne sag mod Henrik tilbage. For han har intet ondt ment med dette. Han har derimod skabt mere interesse for Elvis i Danmark end NOGENSINDE, uden sidestykke og det vil jeg gerne slå et slag for. Lad Graceland Randers bevare navnet, for det skader ingen - ikke engang EPE!

Hvis du er enig, så skriv venligst under på denne underskriftsindsamling for at vise Henrik Knudsen og Graceland Randers DIN opbakning.

På forhånd tak,
Kasper Dahl Finderup,
TCB ALWAYS!                                                                                                                                                                                     

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English version:

So, yet again, “the small man” has been thrown into battle against Goliath, concerning trademark and patent legality in Denmark. Just the other day, it was announced that Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) is suing Henrik Knudsen, the founder and CEO of the Elvis Presley tribute museum in Randers, Denmark, for 1,5 million Danish Kroner, roughly 225.000 US Dollars. This case will have its day in court January 13-14, 2016. Until then, I will show my support of Henrik Knudsen and his life’s work. Since his museum was established four years ago, it has become known and loved as Graceland Randers by Elvis fans all over the globe. It is my hope that those reading this will show Henrik Knudsen their support. He does not deserve to be pulled through this circus. I know he is saddened and shocked it has come this far.

To explain further, Henrik Knudsen is being sued because EPE believes he has violated and used the Graceland name improperly in connection with his 25 year-long dream of creating a place, in the spirit of Elvis, which displays his collection of original Elvis artifacts and memorabilia. This move by EPE puzzles both Graceland Randers, and to a great extent, and many Elvis fans that care a great deal about the museum Henrik Knudsen has created. In 2006, long before the museum was built in 2011, the name “Graceland Randers” was submitted for approval to the Danish Patent and Trademark Office. The name was approved as a trademark April 14, 2006.

At that time, there were no concrete objections from EPE concerning the name. They issued only vague inquiries about a possible name change and let the deadline for objection expire. Only now, four years later, a concrete lawsuit has been filed. Not even the people who worked for Elvis, i.e. musicians, bodyguards, and friends, who have frequented Graceland Randers, object to the name. Instead they have shown huge support for Graceland Randers and what Henrik Knudsen is doing for the Elvis Presley legacy. This action by EPE just reeks of a giant moneymachine out to hit Graceland Randers where it hurts the most - in the wallet!

Henrik Knudsen created Graceland Randers to show his everlasting dedication and enthusiasm for Elvis. It was created to provide fans of Elvis a place to meet, talk about Elvis, and get a delicious meal at Highway 51 Diner, a part of Graceland Randers. To be specific, Graceland Randers was created to honor the greatest singer and entertainer of all time, Elvis Aron Presley. It was not created to compete with Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, where Elvis lived, where fans flock to experience the very essence of Elvis’ soul and where it still lingers, and where the magic lives on. Graceland Randers was not created to compete in any way with Graceland, Memphis. This was never the objective of Henrik Knudsen.

There is a lot of land and water between Graceland, Memphis, USA and Graceland Randers, Denmark. This is part of the craziness of the lawsuit and which makes it so insane. Graceland Randers was created to promote interest and passion for the man, the singer and the legend Elvis Aron Presley, in Denmark. We fans in Denmark now have a place we know and love as Graceland Randers. A place where we can go to pay homage to The King of Rock and Roll. Graceland Randers is a place where fans can hang out, and a place that kindles the flame for fans, that they will someday attend one of the countless “pilgrimages” arranged by Henrik Knudsen to visit or revisit Elvis’ home in Memphis, USA. The chance of a lifetime for some.

Henrik Knudsen has succeeded in creating a framework for we Elvis fans where we can meet, feel very welcome, and feel at home when we visit. An Elvis museum, that he chose to call Graceland Randers. Here the spirit of Elvis is alive, and that allows fans the opportunity to meet some of the people who worked for Elvis in his life-long career as the world’s greatest entertainer. In my opinion, there is no one person other than Henrik Knudsen who has done more to keep the interest in Elvis Presley alive for his fans in Denmark; fans that yearn for something related to Elvis Presley on a local level.

This is why I pray that EPE will withdraw its lawsuit against Henrik Knudsen. Henrik Knudsen’s intent was to do nothing more than cement interest in Elvis and promote unparalleled fandom for Elvis Presley in Denmark, something I believe he has accomplished. He meant no harm nor disrespect. Let Graceland Randers keep its name. It hurts no one - not even EPE!

If you agree with this statement, I urge you to please sign this petition to show your support of Henrik Knudsen and Graceland Randers.

Thanks beforehand,
Kasper Dahl Finderup,
TCB ALWAYS!

P.s. to all Graceland Randers' English speaking friends around the world, I guess you see the petition blanks in Danish, and I am sorry about that. To sign you need to fill out all the blanks:

 Fornavn = First name

Efternavn = Last name

By = City

Land = Click and choose country, if it is not already set on America

Email = Email address

Then click on the Skriv Under button and when you receive an email from the petition site, you just have to open the email to varify the petition signature.

Hope this was help for you sign it, if not you are more than welcome to contact me again about it..

Kasper Dahl Finderup    Contact the author of the petition