Prince merchandise outside First Ave, May 4th
Prompted by the death of Prince, a new “Right of Publicity” law is making its way through the state legislature.
Attorney Joel Leviton is handling Prince’s estate and says the law allows all people to prevent unauthorized commercial use of one’s name and likeness during life and following death and “when a will does not address this right of publicity, it will be treated like any other asset that the decedent owns at death.” Leviton is urging that the law pass before the legislature adjourns.
But Mark Anfinson with the Minnesota Newspapers Association says this issue needs more time and “everything that you place within the scope of publicity rights, you take away from the scope of the first amendment and free expression. So you have to be careful.”
The bill passed in a key House committee yesterday and is set to be heard in a Senate committee today.