News & Analysis

Artwork sold by Target to celebrate the civil rights movement is itself a target – of a right of publicity claim by Rosa Parks’ estate.

September 25, 2015 6:32 am
A case filed in Alabama, but decided by the district court under Michigan law, where Ms. Parks died, claims that Target’s celebratory plaques that include Parks’ image, as well as that of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. may infringe Rosa Park’s right of publicity. The district court held...
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New York Introduces Post-Mortem Right Of Publicity Bill

September 24, 2015 10:07 pm
In May of 2015, the New York Assembly and Senate both introduced bills that would add a post-mortem right of publicity to New York’s law.  The proposed term would be seventy years.  The bill provides a number of enumerated exceptions for expressive works, but it is still hotly...
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Wyoming Rejects Privacy Bill

August 28, 2015 9:10 pm
On January 28, 2015 the Wyoming Senate rejected a pending bill that would have added privacy protections to the state constitution. Wyoming Committee Formal Draft 1.1., 15 LSO-0066 (2015)
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Governor of Arkansas Vetoes Right of Publicity Statute

July 21, 2015 5:02 pm
In the Spring of 2015, the Arkansas legislature passed a right of publicity statute . The legislation was proposed in response to concerns raised by the family of legendary University of Arkansas Coach Frank Broyles. They claimed that the current law inadequately protected him against the unauthorized use...
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