HB 5518

Abstract

Amends the Right to Publicity Act. Provides that "individual" means a living or deceased person regardless of whether the law of the person's domicile, residence, or citizenship at the time of death or otherwise recognizes a similar property right. Provides that the Act applies to all personalities, living or deceased, regardless of domicile or the domicile at the time of death. Provides that the rights under the Act are deemed to have existed at the time of transfer of an interest, death of the person, or death of any subsequent successor of the person's rights for the purpose of determining who is entitled to the property rights. Provides that the Act applies to acts or events that have a substantial relationship to Illinois and take place after the effective date of this Act (instead of take place after the effective date of this Act). Adds a sixth category of exceptions to the applicability of the Act that provides that the Act does not apply to the use of an individual's identity by a person that licenses or engages in any type of intellectual property transaction or the rights to use photographs, videotapes, recordings, or other materials; however, the exception does not apply when a person expressly authorizes the use of publicity rights without a required written consent. Effective immediately.