Connecticut Attorney General's Office

Press Release

Attorney General Announces Danbury Hotel To Rename Event "A Tribute To The Platters"

September 24, 2009, 2009

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today announced that a Danbury hotel will rename an upcoming dinner show to clarify that a tribute group instead of the original Platters is performing and provide refunds to consumers no longer wishing to attend.

Blumenthal said that the changes bring the event into compliance with the state Deceptive Promotion of Recording Groups Act, which requires recording groups have clear legal title to a group name and/or former members to perform under that name.

The Ethan Allan Hotel originally marketed this Saturday's event as "An Evening with the Platters," relying on representations by Live Gold Operations, Inc., which is providing the singers, that it possesses the rights to the group's name. In fact, it's unclear whether Live Gold owns The Platters' name, and none of the group's original members were scheduled to perform.

Blumenthal on Wednesday wrote the hotel and Live Gold Operations, Inc. warning that they were in possible violation of state law and asking for documentation that they could use The Platters' name. The hotel agreed today to rename the event "A Tribute to The Platters."

"I am pleased that Ethan Allen swiftly did the right thing, renaming the event and offering refunds -- which should serve as a model for other venues," Blumenthal said. "Consumers who feel they were misled into believing they would see the original Platters can now get back their money.

"This voluntary agreement is a victory for consumers and performers, assuring music lovers get what they pay for, while protecting recording artists from pilferage and improper profiting. I will continue fighting to enforce Connecticut's truth-in-music law to protect the rights of consumers and artists."