Tag: New York

Actors Sues for Use of Performance in DVD

Brian McCabe, an actor, has sued Entertainment One and Swirl Films for selling DVDs of Community Service, a television show, that he had agreed to appear in and that he knew would be televised.  McCabe claims that although he agreed to the airing of his performance on television, he did not give permission for it...

Singer-Songwriter Sues for Unwitting Product Placement Arising out of Interview

Nafeesha Madyun, aka Esnavi has sued for right of publicity violations under New York Civil Rights Law Sections 50 & 51 for the allegedly unwitting product placement of a Hyundai in her consenusal interview when that interview was repurposed in an ad campaign by the automaker.  The case raises some interesting questions about the legitimacy...

8th Circuit Appears Divided in Dryer v. NFL Oral Arguments

The oral arguments from last Thursday’s hearing before the 8th Circuit in Dryer highlight a host of flashpoints in right of publicity law. The arguments focused on whether the use of historical film clips constituted commercial speech.  The plaintiffs’ attorney claimed that the use by the NFL was clearly commercial speech and therefore not entitled...

Playboy Playmates Sue Strip Club for Using Their Images

Successful Playboy models, Tiffany Selby, Irina Voronina, and Joanna Krupa, have sued a New York strip club, Café Royale, for using their images to promote the venue.  The models complaint includes claims for right of publicity violations (under New York Civil Rights Law §§ 50-51), false endorsement under the Lanham Act (§ 43), deceptive trade...

Beyonce, Pharrell, Rihanna, Jay-Z, and Kanye West Sue Over Use of their Images and Names on Merchandise

These megastars sued Eleven LLC for using their names and images in a variety of merchandise, including t-shirts, hats, and cell phone covers. Some of the images evoked Hitler and some of the items used lyrics from the artists’ songs. The plaintiffs’ complaint includes claims for violations of New York’s Civil Rights Laws § 50...

Character in WOLF OF WALL STREET Does Not Violate Real Person’s Publicity Rights

On September 30, 2015, a federal district court in New York dismissed a right of publicity claim brought by former Stratton Oakmont employee, Andrew Greene.  Greene was featured in convicted felon Jordan Belfort's memoir upon which the Martin Scorsese movie was based. The movie, however, did not use the plaintiff's name or likeness, but instead...

New York Introduces Post-Mortem Right Of Publicity Bill

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 contested.  It is currently under review by...