Notable Cases

Right of Publicity cases provide some of the most memorable reading a law student or practitioner might encounter. Through careful reading of statutory and judicial resources, it is possible to comprehend the Right of Publicity as a doctrine with discernible standards and a critical mission. Still, it is an evolving doctrine and a state-based right. As such, case law concerning the Right of Publicity is not as consistent as many copyright or trademark rulings, which derive primarily from Federal law. In the context of Right of Publicity valuations, holdings that involve damages awards, and insight on how damages were assessed (most typically through a Right of Publicity expert witness valuation) can be useful.

The cases below are sortable by plaintiff, date, or state. To sort the cases by one of these criteria, select the title at the top of that column.