Massachusetts’ New Post-Mortem Right of Publicity

Could be a done deal by the end of the year. According to the Boston Globe, actor Bill Cosby was a major impetus in getting a post-mortem right of publicity bill — good for 70 years after death — to pass the Senate in Massachusetts and on its way to the House Committee on Ways and Means for final approval. Incidentally, New York does not have a post-mortem right of publicity. Texas has one for 50 years after death, and California’s is 70 years after death.

A great recap of the right of publicity and the post-mortem version may be found here, at the Right of Publicity.com.