Emmy Awards organizers sue Whitney Houston's estate in order to block sale of late singer's trophy
Thu Jun 23, 2016 01:29:pm Entertainment
2.9K By Buchi Obichie
The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences filed a lawsuit in California federal court on Wednesday, suing Whitney Houston's estate, in order to block the sale of an Emmy Awards trophy won by the late singer in 1986.
The Academy, which organizes the Emmy's, claims that the sale of thr trophy would tarnish the prestige of the award. It is also claiming ownership of the statue, saying the Academy loans, not gifts, the awards to recipients.
"When the Television Academy honors an artist for an achievement, it lends a copy of the Emmy Statuette to the artist to signify and symbolize the honor," the court filing states.
In the event of a recipient's death, the award is allowed to go to "the artist's heirs and successors in interest to retain custody of copies to symbolize the achievements of the deceased honoree."
The Academy claims that all awards come with a notice that they cannot be sold; and is suing for copyright infringement, and asking the court to return the award to its possession.
The late Whitney Houston, won the Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program in 1986 for her performance of hit song "Saving All My Love for You" at the Grammy Awards earlier that year.
Her estate is now selling the trophy, along with other highly valuable memorabilia, through Heritage Auctions. The auction is expected to end on Saturday, and the trophy is currently listed for $10,000.
The President of Heritage Auctions, Greg Rohan, told The Hollywood Reporter the trophy was consigned to the auction house by Houston's family and they have not seen any notice that the artist agrees not to sell it.
He said: "Why is the Academy now demanding return of Houston's Emmy when they did not stop over three dozen earlier public auctions of Emmy Awards the past decade? Based on their behavior thus far, we think the Academy is simply trying to bully the Houston family, and we're going to stand up for our consignor, regardless of the cost. In addition, Heritage Auctions will donate our entire commission earned on the sale of the Emmy to a charity of the Houston family's choice."
The Academy, which organizes the Emmy's, claims that the sale of thr trophy would tarnish the prestige of the award. It is also claiming ownership of the statue, saying the Academy loans, not gifts, the awards to recipients.
"When the Television Academy honors an artist for an achievement, it lends a copy of the Emmy Statuette to the artist to signify and symbolize the honor," the court filing states.
In the event of a recipient's death, the award is allowed to go to "the artist's heirs and successors in interest to retain custody of copies to symbolize the achievements of the deceased honoree."
The Academy claims that all awards come with a notice that they cannot be sold; and is suing for copyright infringement, and asking the court to return the award to its possession.
The late Whitney Houston, won the Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program in 1986 for her performance of hit song "Saving All My Love for You" at the Grammy Awards earlier that year.
Her estate is now selling the trophy, along with other highly valuable memorabilia, through Heritage Auctions. The auction is expected to end on Saturday, and the trophy is currently listed for $10,000.
The President of Heritage Auctions, Greg Rohan, told The Hollywood Reporter the trophy was consigned to the auction house by Houston's family and they have not seen any notice that the artist agrees not to sell it.
He said: "Why is the Academy now demanding return of Houston's Emmy when they did not stop over three dozen earlier public auctions of Emmy Awards the past decade? Based on their behavior thus far, we think the Academy is simply trying to bully the Houston family, and we're going to stand up for our consignor, regardless of the cost. In addition, Heritage Auctions will donate our entire commission earned on the sale of the Emmy to a charity of the Houston family's choice."
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