Whether referred to as image rights, personality rights, right of publicity, portrait rights or simply likeness, having control over the use of your “image” can be an important right that – in one way or another and to various degrees – is respected in most jurisdictions. This is particularly true for persons whose image has a high value (actors, singers, models, famous athletes, and maybe even some lawyers).

Celebrities are able to monetise the value of their image by signing lucrative ambassador agreements, sponsorship contracts, collaboration agreements and other licensing deals. However, such exclusive agreements can only be enforced against contracting parties, who, in their turn, will generally expect the celebrity to act against unauthorised use of their likeness. The purpose of the agreement, typically higher sales through exclusive association with a famous person, would otherwise be undermined.

As mentioned, most jurisdictions offer some form of protection for image rights, but the way in which they do differs vastly. Pieter takes a closer look at the subject, and how image rights provisions vary between jurisdictions in a new article for the Wolters Kluwer Trademark Blog. You can read the full article here.