News

This is the segment of RightOfPublicity.com where you can find the latest Right of Publicity news. There is rarely a lack of activity in this department, although it can be a challenge to keep up on the latest filings. Click on a link below to read that news story. Some links will open in a new window.

• Article discusses public domain and B.J. Novak's image used on products and in ad campaigns (11/6/21)
• BJ Novak (Ryan of The Office) image used on various products (10/27/21)
• William Shatner tweets regarding issue potentially touching on Right of Publicity (8/18/21)
• Article looks at NFTs and Right of Publicity (8/17/21)
• NIL = RoP (6/22/21)
• US Tax Court Judge values Michael Jackson's Right of Publicity at $4.15 Million (5/10/21)
• Second Circuit ruling on Warhol's Prince series, deemed not transformative (4/10/21)
• Ice Cube sues Robinhood (4/1/21)
• Masks, Go Fund Me, and Right of Publicity claim (3/22/21)
• Microsoft patented chatbot to talk to deceased people, no reported plans to pursue, but interesting Right of Publicity question (1/27/21)
• New York's Governor Cuomo signs Right of Publicity legislation (12/1/20)
• Friday the 13th trumps Halloween: Forbes annual top-earning dead celebrities list (11/13/20)
• Connecticut court confirms Jacques Cousteau transfer of rights to Cousteau Society (10/13/20)
• Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson sued for copyright infringement for posting image of himself on social media (9/18/20)
• NY legislature passes Right of Publicity bill, awaits Governor's signature (9/8/20)
• Bob Ross Inc. files suit against Rip N Dip (8/27/20)
• Mel Gibson issues letter to Miel Gibson maker (8/19/20)
• Clint Eastwood takes action against CBD companies (7/23/20)
• Pablo Escobar estate files claim against 2Chain's Escobar restaurant (7/1/20)
• George Floyd and the Right of Publicity in USA Today (6/15/20)
• Licensing International article by RightOfPublicity.com 's @FaberLaw (5/6/20)
• Article on Italian Right of Publicity and Audrey Hepburn, Maradona suits (5/1/20)
• Selena Gomez files suit against fashion app "Clothes Forever" (4/30/20)
• Astronomer Lucianne Walkowicz files suit against American Girl over Lucianne Vega astronomer doll (4/28/20)
• Michael Jordan defeats Qiaodan Sports in China's Supreme Court (4/09/20)
• Total Licensing article by RightOfPublicity.com 's @FaberLaw (4/14/20)
• Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson, NFL MVP, sues Amazon for infringing goods (3/25/20)
• Bobby Brown claim dismissed against BBC, Showtime re Whitney: Can I Be Me (3/4/20)
• Antonio Brown releases song titled "Andrew Luck" (2/19/20)
• Jack Nicklaus sues PowerPro alleging unauthorized use (2/3/20)
• Jason Mraz lawsuit against MillerCoors for commercial use of name, image, and performance of I'm Yours (1/2/20)
• Kim Kardashian files "Vampire Facial" claim (12/11/19)
• Canadian Right of Publicity survey - link to useful resource (12/5/19)
• Ellen DeGeneres, Sandra Bullock file lawsuit against entities behind fake ads (11/13/19)
• Sharon Stone files claim against Chanel West Coast for "Sharon Stoned" song (11/8/19)
• James Dean to appear in upcoming movie via CGI (11/7/19)
• Happy Halloween: Forbes' Top-Earning Dead Celebrities list, 2019 edition (10/31/19)
• Pilot Chuck Yeager sues Airbus SE (10/17/19)
• California Fair Pay To Play Act signed into law, allowing college athletes to benefit from name, image, and likeness (10/1/19)
• Indy Bar Association CLE on Right of Publicity (10/9/19)
• Ariana Grande files lawsuit against Forever 21 (9/4/19)
• Interesting scenario for hypothetical analysis: Larry Bird mural (8/21/19)
• Link to an overview article on Right of Publicity in Canada (8/19/19)
• Copyright office notes concept for a Federal Right of Publicity in moral rights report (6/12/19)
• RightofPublicity.com 's Faber interviewed re: radio station rebranding (5/16/19)
• Guns N' Roses sues over unauthorized Guns N' Rosé craft beer (5/10/19)
• Brooke Shields pursues Charlotte Tilbury Beauty for "Brooke S." eyebrow pencil (5/9/19)
• Steve McQueen Estate files suit against Tom Ford "McQueen Cardigan" (4/22/19)
• California Bill 206, Fair Pay to Play Act, and licensing student athletes' Right of Publicity (4/11/19)
• Notorious B.I.G. estate files suit against Yes Snowboard company (3/29/19)
• A Girl Scout changes Samoas packaging to Momoas with Aquaman Jason Momoa image (2/20/19)
• Fiji Water Girl files suit in relation to cardboard cutout ad campaign (2/4/19)
• Marley estate prevails against Jammin Java, $2.4 million damages (1/17/19)
• US Supreme Court will not hear Olivia de Havilland's case over FX's Feud (1/7/19)
• New York Times article on athlete tattoos, copyright of the artist, and video games (12/30/18)
• Alphonso Ribeiro, Carlson of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, sues Fortnite over Carlton Dance (12/18/18)
• Rapper 2 Milly asserts claim against Fortnite re: dance moves (12/11/18)
• Drake settles infringement lawsuit (12/3/18)
• Forbes annual Top-Earning Deceased Celebrities for 2018 is released (10/31/18)
• Indiana Supreme Court rules on fantasy gambling newsworthiness in Daniels et. al. v. FanDuel and DraftKings, No. 18S-CQ-00134 (10/24/18)
• Beyonce denied injunctive relief in Feyonce lawsuit (10/2/18)
• Suit involving famous marathon runner and TM "advertising idea" appears to have Right of Publicity underpinnings (9/21/18)
• World Sports Alumni sues NFL, NBA over use of former players in Pro Bowl spots (9/12/18)
• LeBron James declaration regarding his likeness and tattoos implicates both Right of Publicity and copyright (8/28/18)
• Steve McQueen heirs sue Ferarri for special edition "The McQueen" (8/1/18)
• Fox settles with Muhammad Ali Enterprises over Super Bowl ad (7/18/18)
• CA Supreme Court denies petition to revive Olivia de Havilland "Feud: Bette and Joan" suit (7/13/18)
• FanDuel lobs up "newsworthy" defense in front of Indiana Supreme Court re: fantasy sports (6/29/18)
• New York's A.8155B generating a necessary discussion on the Right of Publicity (6/14/18)
• Muhammad Ali suit against Fox over Super Bowl promotion allowed to proceed to determine if it is an advertisement (5/25/18)
• Stan Lee files a Right of Publicity lawsuit (5/16/18)
• Intriguing article on plans to digitally create JFK speech (4/4/18)
• De Havilland claim against FX Network denied (3/29/18)
• Excellent blog entry with a valuable perspective (2/28/18)
• Goodfellas actor's appeal against Simpsons mobster character denied by California Court of Appeals (2/14/18)
• Things already well-settled: CA court confirms copyright does not preempt Right of Publicity in Davis v. Electronic Arts (1/24/18)
• Italian "Steve Jobs" fashion company continues challenge against Apple (1/2/18)
• Prince Harry's Royal Wedding to Meghan Markle spawns merchandise frenzy (12/28/17)
• Muhammad Ali Enterprises sues Fox for Super Bowl LI promo (10/11/17)
• Chris Farley's rights owners sue Trek re: Farley bike (9/15/17)
• Thelonius Monk estate sues craft brewery over Brother Thelonius ale (9/1/17)
• Mike Tyson and his next fight: Boxing Hall of Fame (8/17/17)
• Ohio State University and IMG College sued by Spielman, other college football players (7/14/17)
• Tolson estate files suit against 2007 Denzel Washington movie "The Great Debaters" (7/1/17)
• Olivia De Havilland sues FX, Ryan Murphy Productions over "Feud: Bette and Joan" (6/30/17)
• Forbes article on the business of Right of Publicity (6/12/17)
• Are "Stay In Yo Lane" shirts infringing Kristine Leahy's Right of Publicity? (5/26/17)
• Acting after death, CGI, and Star Wars (5/3/17)
• Sofia Vergara settles $15M false endorsement suit v. Venus Concepts (4/20/17)
• Madonna opposes Malterial Girl TM application; also Right of Publicity angle (4/13/17)
• Patriots' Matt Patricia wears shirt of Roger Goodell as a clown: parody or Right of Publicity infringement? (2/7/17)
• Ninth Circuit's Hurt Locker ruling, judicial review & the Right of Publicity (2/1/17)
• Chipotle sued for $2.2 billion (1/23/17)
• Lenwood "Hard Rock" Hamilton, former football player and wrestler, sues over Gears of War portrayal (1/13/17)
• Run DMC sues Amazon, Walmart for $50 Million in Right of Publicity, trademark claim (12/30/16)
• China moves toward recognizing Right of Publicity in Michael Jordan case (12/13/16)
• Right of Publicity and President-Elect Trump (12/6/16)
• Forbes' Annual Top-Earning Dead Celebrities (10/13/16)
• Indy Bar Association Hosts THE Right of Publicity Event of 2016 (10/4/16)
• Rolling Stone article looks inside Prince estate developments (9/22/16)
• Rolling Stone analyzes Right of Publicity issues in Kanye West's Famous video (7/5/16)
• EA pays Jim Brown $600k to settle his Madden suit (6/29/16)
• Airbnb sued by Julia Child's Foundation for unauthorized advertising (6/27/16)
• PRINCE Act, Minnesota's draft right of publicity legislation, tabled (5/19/16)
• Athletes trademarking phrases (5/18/16)
• Dale Earnhardt's family dispute over use of the Earnhardt name (5/6/16)
• Valuation of Prince's Image Rights (4/27/16)
• Pele sues Samsung for $30 Million over lookalike in advertisement (4/4/16)
• Hulk Hogan damages award v. Gawker now $140 Million after $25M punitives added (3/22/16)
• Hulk Hogan wins $115 Million in Right of Publicity suit against Gawker (3/20/16)
• Michael Jordan sues two Chicago-area stores for unauthorized congratulatory ads (12/24/09)
• Estate of Jimi Hendrix sues Leon Hendrix for Purple Haze Liquor (3/2/16)
• Former NFL players lose ruling regarding in game footage (2/29/16)
• The agreement with the Jesse Owens family for the movie Race (2/17/16)
• Facebook $20 Million class action settlement for "Sponsored Stories" upheld by Ninth Circuit (1/14/16)
• Reese Witherspoon vs. Gemvara jewelry's "Reese Ring" - Legally Blonde star wins summary judgment ruling (12/2/15)
• Alabama's Right of Publicity statute added to RightOfPublicity.com (11/20/15)
• Washington Redskins WR Pierre Garcon files Right of Publicity lawsuit against FanDuel (11/1/15)
• Forbes' annual Top-Earning Dead Celebrities List (10/30/15)
• Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner sues Hasbro for Harris Faulkner Hamster (9/2/15)
• Infringement of Michael Jordan's Right of Publicity costs supermarket $8.9 Million (8/22/15)
• How protected contract details become public: Michael Jordan's unredacted Nike endorsement deal to be produced (8/4/15)
• Taylor Swift combats right of publicity infringements in China (7/23/15)
• Hollywood Reporter's "Hollywood Hologram Wars" examines business potential and risks (6/1/15)
• B.B. King's death and possible controversy has Right of Publicity implications (5/26/15)
• Kidney donor to former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry sued by Barry's widow (4/9/15)
• Robin Williams implemented a 25 year (after death) wait on use of his Right of Publicity (4/8/15)
• Hall & Oates sue granola company for "Haulin' Oats" (3/5/15)
• Pope Francis dolls with Right of Publicity implications (2/18/15)
• Rihanna wins claim in Court of Appeal of London against Topshop for unauthorized shirts (1/22/15)
• Video game lawsuit: General Patton vs. Maximum Games (1/19/15)
• Davis v. Electronic Arts ruling for Plaintiff (1/7/15)
• Kaci Hickox and HeroBuilder's Ebola Nurse Doll (11/20/14)
• Don Henley takes action in response to Duluth Trading Company's "Don A Henley, Take It Easy" (10/14/14)
• NFL gets favorable ruling in former players Right of Publicity class action (10/13/14)
• Former military dictator sues Activision for depiction in Call of Duty (9/25/14)
• Snapchat sued by sisters who are the "faces" of Snapchat (9/23/14)
• O'Bannon wins landmark ruling against NCAA re: college athletes right to be paid for use of likeness (8/9/14)
• Heirs of "Aunt Jemima" character file $2 billion lawsuit against PepsiCo, Quaker Oats (8/8/14)
• Massachusetts Senate passes Right of Publicity bill (6/16/14)
• College athletes reach $40 Million settlement with Electronic Arts and CLC (6/3/14)
• Schwarzenegger takes on Arnold Nutrition Group, sues for $10 million (6/2/14)
• Elvis Presley Enterprises sues firearm manufacturer Beretta (5/2/14)
• Katherine Heigl's lawsuit against Duane Reade's social media posting (4/11/14)
• Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals rules in favor of Michael Jordan (2/20/14)
• US Supreme Court denies NCAA's Right of Publicity petition (1/16/14)
• The Atlantic article on Internet scam ads and the person who has made a fortune from it (1/10/14)
• Kanye West takes on Coinye West (1/7/14)
• NCAA petitions US Supreme Court to consider Right of Publicity matter (12/16/13)
• Trick or Treat! The top-earning dead celebrtities are...(10/24/13)
• Harper Lee files lawsuit against Alabama museum (10/19/13)
• Julia Childs Foundation files lawsuit against Williams Sonoma for unauthorized use of her Right of Publicity (10/1/13)
• Forbes article on challenge of valuing Michael Jackson estate (8/28/13)
• Dangers of Counterfeits and IP Infringements (8/21/13)
• Rihanna wins UK ruling against Topshop for unlicensed shirts (8/1/13)
• North Carolina Bar's Journal publishes Faber article (7/8/13)
• Hollywood Reporter article on Right of Publicity and alleged Boston bombers (4/23/13)
• Full text of 2012 amended Indiana Right of Publicity statute now on RightOfPublicity.com (5/15/13)
• Lionsgate sued by former model Gita Hall for use of her image in Mad Men opening sequence (3/29/13)
• Chubby Checker files lawsuit against Hewlett Packard for unlicensed "Chubby Checker" mobile app (3/5/13)
• Olympic gold medalist Oksana Baiul sues NBC for violation of her Right of Publicity (2/27/13)
• Johnny Manziel files lawsuit over use of Johnny Football nickname (2/26/13)
• Angel Fraley v. Facebook: Right of Publicity and Sponsored Stories (2/3/13)
• Guns n' Roses' Duff McKagan comments on the Simpsons' Duff Beer (11/13/12)
• Forbes.com's "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities" List: A Halloween Tradition (10/24/12)
• Can Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas stop a third party trademark application for "Flying Squirrel?" (9/13/12)
• Marilyn Monroe appeal unsuccessful (8/31/12)
• Jonathan Faber of Luminary Group & RightOfPublicity.com presents "Celebrity Licensing" at LIMA's annual Licensing Show (6/14/12)
• Tim Tebow and potential Right of Publicity legal action against MY Jesus t-shirts (5/17/12)
• Experience Hendrix opposes contemplated Jimi Hendrix biopic movie (5/11/12)
• RightOfPublicity.com's Faber Interviewed by Indiana Lawyer Regarding Tupac Hologram (5/9/12)
• Faber quoted in article about Kurt Cobain's Right of Publicity (5/4/12)
• Buzz Aldrin's Right of Publicity claim against Topps over his image on trading cards headed to Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (4/17/12)
• Clint Eastwood files lawsuit against furniture maker (4/9/12)
• Sandra Bullock sues ToyWatch USA for unauthorized use of her Right of Publicity promoting Blind Side watch (3/5/12)
• Target Rosa Parks (2/24/15)
• Michael Jordan's Right of Publicity claim against Chicago grocery store comes up short (2/18/12)
• Marilyn Monroe Estate assists Shaw Family Archives and acquires control over Shaw images in New York Bankruptcy proceedings (2/9/12)
• Marlon Brando lawsuit against Ashley Furniture settles for a reported $356,000 (2/7/12)
• Apple objects to In Icons' plans for a Steve Jobs action figure (1/6/12)
• Beverly Hillbillies actress settles Mattel doll lawsuit (12/31/11)
• ESPN cites the work Luminary Group has done for Vince Lombardi family (12/20/11)
• Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino sues Abercrombie & Fitch on Right of Publicity grounds (12/15/11)
• Benetton's "unhate" campaign: publicity stunt, obviously, but Right of Publicity violation? (12/7/11)
• Use of television host's image and alleged personal details posted by users on gossip blog held not to violate Right of Publicity under Tennessee statute (10/27/11)
• Must be Halloween time again, as Forbes rolls out annual Top-Earning Dead Celebrities list (10/25/11)
• Nelson Mandela's licensed clothing line, 46664, his ID number while in prison (9/23/11)
• Kim Kardashian sues Old Navy over a lookalike in advertisements (7/21/11)
• Naomi Campbell considers "all her options" including a lawsuit for use of her first name in Cadbury advertisement (6/10/11)
• Disney files for "SEAL Team 6" trademark, the name of the elite special forces unit that tracked down Osama bin Laden (5/19/11)
• The Shirelles, Dionne Warwick file lawsuit over Broadway show "Baby It's You" (5/1/11)
• Charlie Sheen tries "Winning" through cease and desist letters (3/23/11)
• Einstein's heir wants part of the income derived from Albert Einstein licensing (2/11/11)
• Marilyn Monroe rights sell for a reported $50 Million, says The Hollywood Reporter (1/20/11)
• Cypress Hill member sues Rockstar for use of his life story in Grand Theft Auto (12/14/10)
• Axl Rose sues Activision for $20 million over inclusion of Slash character and Velvet Revolver songs in Guitar Hero game (11/24/10)
• Forbes' annual Top-Earning Dead Celebrities List is released, with a few surprises, new entries, and past perennials gone (10/26/10)
• Litigation over Material Girl: Madonna or LA Triumph? (8/21/10)
• Hulk Hogan sues Post over Hulk Boulder character in Cocoa Pebbles advertisement (6/15/10)
• Marlon Brando Estate sues Joe's Jeans (6/15/10)
• Widow of Fred Astaire files lawsuit over annual dance awards ceremony named "Fred and Adele Astaire Awards" (6/5/10)
• Video game manufacturer EA loses dismissal motion to NCAA football player Sam Keller (3/22/10)
• Lindsay Lohan sues E*Trade for $100 Million over "milkaholic" baby in television ad (3/9/10)
• Former UCLA basketball star O'Bannon suit against NCAA (2/9/10)
• NBA Star Shaquille O'Neal sues Las Vegas company for unauthorized use of Shaqtus nickname (1/19/10)
• Michelle Obama featured in new PETA ad without First Lady's permission (1/6/10)
• Chuck Yeager scores victory in right of publicity claim against AT&T (12/14/09)
• Bob Marley to become the top grossing deceased celebrity? Predictions of $1 billion by 2012 (11/20/09)
• Gwen Stefani and No Doubt sue Activision over Rock Band video game (11/12/09)
• Nelson Mandela's name used in connection with a gourmet hamburger (11/2/09)
• Happy Halloween! Forbes releases 2009 Top-Earning Dead Celebrities list (10/31/09)
• DirecTV criticized for Chris Farley ads (10/29/09)
• FTC suggesting new regulations concerning celebrity endorsements (10/12/09)
• Paris Hilton sues Hallmark over use of her image and phrase "That's Hot" on Greeting Cards (9/22/09)
• Courtney Love to sue Activision over use of Kurt Cobain's Right Of Publicity in Guitar Hero 5 (9/10/09)
• Another lawsuit by retired NFL players against NFL and NFL films (8/26/09)
• Jackson Browne settles right of publicity suit with GOP (7/21/09)
• Michael Jackson's death may precipitate a battle over his assets, including his right of publicity (6/26/09)
• Cardinals Manager La Russa files suit against Twitter for fake page (6/5/09)
• Woody Allen settles American Apparel lawsuit for $5 Million (5/18/09)
• College football star Tim Tebow and unlicensed "Teebow" women's thongs (5/1/09)
• In China, a new law means celebrity endorsements can lead to celebrity liability (3/21/09)
• Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro sue watch manufacturer Tutima for infringing advertisements (3/6/09)
• NBA stops planned t-shirts of Krypto-Nate (Robinson), concern for DC Comics Intellectual Property (3/3/09)
• Jennifer Lopez (J.Lo) and Marc Anthony sue British stroller company for $5M (2/28/09)
• Beanie baby giant Ty selling Sasha and Malia Obama dolls (1/25/09)
• Jackson Browne sues John McCain for use of song in campaign ad (1/23/09)
• Lubbock nears deal on Buddy Holly rights (1/9/09)
• Romantics lose case against Activision for soundalike recording (12/15/08)
• Madonna sues over publication of wedding photos (12/1/08)
• Taco Bell lawyers get tough with rapper 50 Cent (11/20/08)
• Fitch, Wellisch given the boot for not signing (11/19/08)
• Madden can be agent for change in NFL union (11/14/08)
• Ninth Circuit hands victory to Halicki in dispute with Carroll Shelby over "Eleanor," star car from "Gone in 60 Seconds" (11/13/08)
• King family seeks to cash in on MLK-Obama items (11/13/08)
• North Carolina Considering Right of Publicity Statute? (11/12/08)
• Illinois Seeks to Amend Right of Publicity Statute (11/12/08)
• Tiger Woods, Tigris Woods and Iraqi Right of Publicity? (9/20/08)
• Indiana company loses Marilyn Monroe lawsuit (9/4/08)
• Supreme Court refuses to hear Major League Baseball appeal over fantasy baseball and use of stats (7/2/08)
• Topps/CMG Sue Upper Deck Over 2008 Legendary Cuts Cards (6/12/08)
• Court sides with photographers, hands loss to Marilyn Monroe estate (4/7/08)
• Marilyn Monroe--Right of Publicity? (3/19/08)
• Judge denies man's bid to change name to Peyton Manning (11/28/07)
• Evel Knievel, Kanye West settle lawsuit (11/28/07)
• Ruling freezes brother out of Jimi Hendrix's estate (6/7/07)
• Andy Griffith sues Andy Griffith (12/12/06)
• Tom Brady Sues Yahoo Over Use Of His Image In Fantasy Promos (12/1/06)
• O.J. Simpson's Right of Publicity Assignable to Goldmans? (11/2006)
• Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx Wins Judgment in Suit Vs. Vans (2/11/05)
• Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick lawsuit against Sephora (1/10/03)
• Bing Crosby's Right of Publicity: community property via marriage? (2/1/14)
• ALQ Journal reports $1.8M jury award to licensing agent (7/26/13)