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

The Threat Posed to History & Storytellers
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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
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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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Can Privacy Survive the Digital Age?
volokh conspiracy post two right of privacy right of publicity book roberson
In my second post on The Volokh Conspiracy on topics related to my book, The Right of Publicity: Privacy Reimagined for a Public World (Harvard Univ. Press 2018), I consider whether privacy can survive the digital age. Much of the story that my...
Official Release of The Right of Publicity: Privacy Reimagined for a Public World
right of publicity jennifer rothman harvard university press 2018 right of privacy publicity
My book, The Right of Publicity: Privacy Reimagined for a Public World, was officially released today by Harvard University Press. Jack Balkin of Yale Law School has described the book as the "definitive biography of the right of publicity...
De Havilland Seeks Review of Feud Decision
de havilland right of publicity petition to california supreme court
Olivia de Havilland's lawyers have filed a petition seeking review in the California Supreme Court of a California Court of Appeal's recent decision holding that the First Amendment bars her false light and right of publicity claims arising out of...
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