Governor of Arkansas Vetoes Right of Publicity Statute
The Book
THE RIGHT OF PUBLICITY: Privacy Reimagined for a Public World
This book from Harvard University Press by Professor Jennifer Rothman traces the history and development of the right of publicity and its current collision course with individual liberty, free speech and copyright law.
Now Available
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 of his name and likeness. Governor Asa Hutchinson vetoed the bill because it would “unnecessarily restrict free expression,” and called the bill’s definition of commercial use “too broad and too vague” potentially jeopardizing uses in expressive works. A reworked version of the bill was submitted, but died in the house committee on April 22, 2015.
Proposed Senate Bill 79
MPAA’s Letter Seeking to Veto Senate Bill 79
Governor Hutchison’s Veto Letter
Proposed Senate Bill 965