SF 3609

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 05/18/2016 01:25pm

A bill for an act
relating to civil actions; recognizing a property right in a person's name, voice,
signature, photograph, or likeness; prohibiting unauthorized use; providing
remedies; proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 564.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [564.01] DEFINITIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Terms. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this chapter, the terms in this section have
the meanings given them.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definable group. new text end

new text begin "Definable group" means an assemblage of individuals
existing or brought together with or without interrelation, orderly form, or arrangement,
including but not limited to a crowd at a sporting event, a crowd in a street or public
building, and the audience at a theatrical or stage production.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Individual. new text end

new text begin "Individual" means a human being, living or dead.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Person. new text end

new text begin "Person" means a person, firm, association, partnership,
corporation, joint stock company, syndicate, receiver, common law trust, conservator,
statutory trust, or other concern by whatever name known or however organized, formed,
or created, and includes not-for-profit corporations, associations, educational and religious
institutions, political parties, and community, civic, or other organizations.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Photograph. new text end

new text begin "Photograph" means a photograph or photographic
reproduction, still or moving, or a videotape or live television transmission, of an
individual, so that the individual is readily identifiable. An individual is readily identifiable
from a photograph if one who views the photograph with the naked eye can reasonably
determine who the individual depicted in the photograph is.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [564.02] RIGHT IN USE OF NAME, VOICE, SIGNATURE,
PHOTOGRAPH, AND LIKENESS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Property rights. new text end

new text begin An individual has a property right in the use of that
individual's name, voice, signature, photograph, and likeness in any medium in any manner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Scope. new text end

new text begin The rights provided in subdivision 1 are freely assignable and
licensable and do not expire upon the death of the individual so protected, whether or not
the rights were commercially exploited by the individual during the individual's lifetime.
The rights are descendible to the executors, assigns, heirs, or devisees of the individual so
protected by this section.
new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [564.03] EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS; COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION
AFTER DEATH.
new text end

new text begin The rights provided for in this chapter are exclusive to the individual, subject to the
assignment or licensing of the rights as provided in section 564.02 during the individual's
lifetime and to the executors, administrators, heirs, devisees, or assignees for a minimum
period of 50 years after the death of the individual. After the initial 50-year period, the
executor, administrator, heir, devisee, or assignee shall maintain the right until the right is
terminated by proof of nonuse for commercial purposes by an executor, administrator,
heir, devisee, or assignee, or licensees thereof, for a period of two years subsequent to
the initial 50-year period following the individual's death.
new text end

Sec. 4.

new text begin [564.04] UNAUTHORIZED USE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Generally. new text end

new text begin A person who uses another individual's name, voice,
signature, photograph, or likeness, in any manner:
new text end

new text begin (1) on or in products, merchandise, or goods;
new text end

new text begin (2) for purposes of advertising or selling, or soliciting purchases of, products,
merchandise, goods, or services; or
new text end

new text begin (3) for purposes of fund-raising or soliciting donations, without the individual's prior
consent, or, in the case of a minor, the prior consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian,
or in the case of a deceased individual, the consent of the executor, administrator, heir, or
devisee of such deceased individual, or an assignee of rights under section 564.02,
new text end

new text begin is liable in a civil action.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Limitation. new text end

new text begin It is no defense to the unauthorized use defined in subdivision
1 that the photograph includes more than one individual so identifiable if the individual or
individuals complaining of the use are represented as individuals per se rather than solely
as members of a definable group represented in the photograph.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Seizure of property. new text end

new text begin If an unauthorized use as defined in subdivision 1 is
by means of products, merchandise, goods, or other tangible personal property, all the
property, including all instrumentalities used in connection with the unauthorized use by
the person violating this section, is contraband and subject to seizure by, and forfeiture
to, the state in the same manner as is provided by law for the seizure and forfeiture of
other contraband items.
new text end

Sec. 5.

new text begin [564.05] REMEDIES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Injunction. new text end

new text begin The district court having jurisdiction in an action arising
pursuant to this chapter may grant injunctions on terms it considers reasonable to prevent
or restrain the unauthorized use of an individual's name, voice, signature, photograph,
or likeness. As part of the injunction, the court may authorize the confiscation of all
unauthorized items and seize all instrumentalities used in connection with the violation
of the individual's rights.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Impoundment. new text end

new text begin At any time while an action under this chapter is pending,
the court may order the impounding, on terms it considers reasonable, of all materials
or any part thereof claimed to have been made or used in violation of the individual's
rights, and the court may enjoin the use of all plates, molds, matrices, masters, tapes, film
negatives, or other articles by means of which the materials may be reproduced.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Disposition of materials. new text end

new text begin As part of a final judgment or decree, the
court may order the destruction or other reasonable disposition of all materials found to
have been made or used in violation of the individual's rights, and of all plates, molds,
matrices, masters, tapes, film negatives, or other articles by means of which the materials
may be reproduced.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Actual damages. new text end

new text begin An individual may recover the actual damages suffered
as a result of the use of the individual's rights and profits that are attributable to the use or
infringement that are not taken into account in computing the actual damages. Profit or
lack thereof by the unauthorized use or infringement of an individual's rights is not criteria
for determining liability. In establishing these profits, the injured party or parties shall be
required to present proof only of the gross revenue attributable to the use, and the person
who violated this section is required to prove the deductible expenses. Punitive damages
may also be awarded to the injured party or parties. The prevailing party or parties in an
action under this section shall also be entitled to attorney fees and costs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Cumulative. new text end

new text begin The remedies provided for in this section are cumulative
and are in addition to other remedies provided for by law.
new text end

Sec. 6.

new text begin [564.06] FAIR USE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Generally. new text end

new text begin It is deemed a fair use and no violation of an individual's
rights if the use of a name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness is in connection with
a news, public affairs, or sports broadcast or account.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Commercial sponsorship. new text end

new text begin The use of a name, voice, signature,
photograph, or likeness in a commercial medium does not constitute a use for purposes of
advertising or soliciting solely because the material containing the use is commercially
sponsored or contains paid advertising. It is a question of fact whether or not the use of the
complainant individual's name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness was so directly
connected with the commercial sponsorship or with the paid advertising as to constitute a
use for purposes of advertising or soliciting.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Nonapplication. new text end

new text begin This section does not apply to the owners or employees
of a medium used for advertising, including but not limited to newspapers, magazines,
radio and television networks and stations, cable television systems, billboards, and transit
ads, who have published or disseminated an advertisement or solicitation in violation of
this chapter unless it is established that the owners or employees had knowledge of the
unauthorized use of the individual's name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness as
prohibited by this section.
new text end

Sec. 7.

new text begin [564.07] APPLICATION OF LAW.
new text end

new text begin This section applies to an individual otherwise entitled to the protection afforded
under chapter 333.
new text end

Sec. 8. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.
new text end

new text begin This act is effective August 1, 2016. The rights recognized by this act are expressly
made retroactive, including to those deceased individuals who died before the effective
date of this act.
new text end