The right of publicity is a state law that protects individuals' identities from being used by others without permission. The boundaries of the claim vary widely from state to state. Rothman's Roadmap to the Right of Publicity provides an interactive overview of each state's right of publicity laws, as well as breaking news and commentary by Jennifer Rothman, one of the leading scholars in the field.

Right of Publicity State-by-State

Select a state or territory to learn more about its right of publicity laws.

The Book

Privacy Reimagined For A Public World

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.

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Latest News & Commentary

DJ Khaled Sues Over Use of His Son's Name
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Last week Khaled M. Khaled, known popularly as DJ Khaled, and the company ATK Entertainment filed a lawsuit objecting to the alleged uses of his son’s name by a clothing company. The complaint (as resubmitted yesterday) alleges violations of...
New York Legislature Deluged with Letters Opposing Right Of Publicity Bill
new york state right of publicity right of privacy bill 2018 june
Dozens of letters opposing the recently reintroduced and amended version of a right of publicity bill in New York have already been submitted to members of the New York legislature.  Letters so far include ones by: The Media Coalition, New York...
New York Right of Publicity Bill Resurrected Again
new york state right of publicity amended reintroduced june 2018
Once again as the New York legislature nears the end of its term for the year, the Assembly is trying to push through an ill-thought-out right of publicity bill without allowing for hearings and public debate on the bill. An amended version of the...
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More News & Commentary

The Threat Posed to History & Storytellers
California supreme court seal right of publicity olivia de havilland right of publicity lawsuit volokh conspiracy post on first amendment and depcitions of real people
In this final guest post, "Real People, Real History, Real Problems," on The Volokh Conspiracy about issues raised in my book, I consider the danger that the right of publicity will block or substantially limit depictions of real people. The...
The Topsy-Turvy Market in Dead People
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My post today on The Volokh Conspiracy considers "The Market in Dead People," and the "ghoulish futures market in aging celebrities."  Read it in full here: https://reason.com/volokh/2018/05/10/the-market-in-dead-people This is the fourth of...
Reanimating Actors and the Dangers of a Transferable Right of Publicity
right of publicity blog post volokh conspiracy right of privacy right to privacy robin wright reanimated actors
In "Only Robin Wright Should Own Robin Wright," I consider the dangers of the digital reanimation of actors and the creation of a transferable right to one's own name, likeness, and voice. This is the third post on The Volokh...
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