Danish ‘Graceland’ museum changes name after lawsuit

Joachim Ladefoged / AP via POLFOTO

Henrik Knudsen, founder of the Graceland in Randers, Denmark, stands next to a statue of Elvis Presley on Jan. 5, 2015. Knudsen is changing the name of the western Denmark museum, restaurant and souvenir shop after the singer’s heirs sued him for infringement of the trademark “Graceland.”

Associated Press

Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015 | 8:34 a.m.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Denmark's Elvis museum, a replica of Presley's Graceland Mansion home in Memphis, is changing its name after a lawsuit for infringement of the "Graceland" trademark.

Henrik Knudsen, who opened Graceland Randers in 2011, says the Memphis, Tennessee-based Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. has demanded a name change and 1.5 million kroner ($220,000) in compensation.

The Danish replica, twice the size of the original Graceland, is situated in Randers, 210 kilometers (130 miles) northwest of the capital, Copenhagen. It includes Knudsen's private collection of Elvis artifacts, an American diner-style restaurant and a souvenir shop.

Knudsen said Tuesday he will change the name of the museum to Memphis Mansion as of Jan. 1, so that he can "focus on our business."

This year more than 130,000 people have visited the museum.