Roy Orbison’s Estate Involved In Hologram Lawsuit

The estate of the late Roy Orbison is suing over a proposed hologram of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer -- to make it happen rather than keeping it off the road.

Roy's Boys, which is operated by Orbison's son, is suing Hologram USA in New York Supreme Court over the project; Hologram USA broached the idea of an Orbison hologram in 2014, but a prototype was not delivered within nine months, as the contract specified and Roy's Boys terminated the deal during October of 2016 and signed a new deal with BASE Holograms for tours of the U.K. and Australia during 2018.

Hologram USA protested and threatened to sue, and company attorney Barry Rothman told The Hollywood Reporter that, "Our position is that the agreement is in full force and effect."

Hologram USA maintains that Roy's Boys violated conditions of the contract about talking to competitors. In it suit, Roy's Boys maintains that the deal with Hologram USA was indeed terminated and is now suing "because of Hologram USA's unauthorized use of Orbison's name and likeness after termination of that contract and their attempts to interfere with future Orbison hologram tours."

The estate is asking the court "to affirm Roy's Boys termination of its Agreement with Hologram USA" and also "seeks to enjoin Hologram USA and its officers from both interfering in the Roy Orbison business and continuing  to use Roy Orbison's trademarks."

The suit is asking for unspecified "damages and costs related to this legal action."

Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist who not only covers music but has written books on Bob Seger, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen.