Legislative effort regarding the Right of Publicity in New York

An effort to enact meaningful Right of Publicity recognition in New York is gaining momentum.  It is long overdue.  Details to follow when available and appropriate for release.

It should be noted that for the better part of the Twentieth Century, New York’s judiciary interpreted New York Civil Law sections 50 and 51 as inclusive of postmortem publicity rights.  This means, for example, that at the time of Marilyn Monroe’s death in 1962 New York did indeed recognize such rights (and those rights were capable of passing, and thus did pass, into her estate).  There is, therefore, precedent for New York recognizing these rights.  It need not be seen as treading into uncharted territory.