Jamaican reggae music icon, the late Bob Marley, is experiencing record sales of his music and merchandise since his death from brain cancer in 1981. Only trouble is, from the estimated $600 million annually his sounds and likeness earn, a paltry $4 million is from legally licensed products. So, the Marley heirs, armed with the singer’s global trademark, are going to war on the pirates whose bootlegs are diminishing their legacy at an alarming rate.

The Toronto-based Hilco Consumer Capital has been hired to protect the Marley brand, which is projected to hit $1 billion in sales over the coming years. A line of Marley-esque commercial products is planned, under the name “House of Marley,” and will include such stuff as snowboards, backpacks, stationery, headphones, musical instruments, and restaurants.

Seems that Bob Marley is to go the way of Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson – an infinite money-making machine in eternity.

Digital Cheeseburger believes that, on the surface, such a move to memorialize Marley in commercialism is all right. That is, until his lifelong preaching of non-materialism surfaces, and demotes this foray into selling (out) Marley’s message and music as yet another family of a deceased star engaged in undignified exploitation. Whereas, regular families are in a continued maintenance of their loved one’s dignity. Just sayin’.

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