12-761

12-761. Right of publicity; unauthorized use of
the name, portrait or picture of a soldier; exceptions;
definition

A. The right to control and to choose whether and how to use a soldier's name,
portrait or picture for commercial purposes is recognized as each soldier's right of
publicity.

B. A person is liable for using the name, portrait or picture of any soldier
without having obtained prior consent to the use by the soldier or by the soldier's
spouse, immediate family member, trustee if the soldier is a minor or legally designated
representative if the person uses the name, portrait or picture for any of the following
purposes:

1. Advertising for the sale of any goods, wares or merchandise.

2. Soliciting patronage for any business.

3. Receiving consideration for the sale of any goods, wares or merchandise.

C. A person who uses the name, portrait or picture of a soldier for a prohibited
purpose without prior consent from the soldier or a person who may enforce the soldier's
rights and remedies is subject to the following:

1. Injunctive relief to prevent or restrain the unauthorized use.

2. Treble damages.

3. Punitive or exemplary damages.

4. Attorney fees and costs.

D. In calculating damages, any profits from the unauthorized use that are
attributable to that use shall be taken into account.

E. The rights and remedies provided in this section supplement any other rights and
remedies provided by law, including the common law right of privacy.

F. Any claim for relief that is requested pursuant to this section shall be brought
within five years after the unauthorized publication.

G. The right of publicity is a property right that survives a soldier's death. On
the soldier's death, only the following individuals may enforce the soldier's rights and
remedies in the following order:

1. The soldier's legally designated representative.

2. The soldier's spouse.

3. The soldier's parents.

4. The soldier's children.

5. The soldier's grandchildren.

H. This section does not apply to the following:

1. The use of a soldier's name, portrait or picture in an attempt to portray,
describe or impersonate that soldier in a live performance, a single and original work of
fine art, a play, book, article, musical work or film or on radio, television or other
audio or audiovisual work if the performance, musical work, play, book, article or film
does not itself constitute a commercial advertisement for any goods, wares or
merchandise.

2. The use of a soldier's name, portrait or picture for noncommercial purposes,
including any news, public affairs or sports broadcast or account.

3. The use of a soldier's name in truthfully identifying the soldier as the author
of a particular work or program or as the performer in a particular performance.

4. Any promotional materials, advertisements or commercial announcements for a use
described in paragraph 1, 2 or 3 of this subsection.

5. The use of photographs, video recordings and images by a person, firm or
corporation practicing the profession of photography to exhibit, in or about the
professional photographer's place of business or portfolio, specimens of the professional
photographer's work, unless the exhibition is continued by the professional photographer
after written notice objecting to the exhibition by the portrayed soldier or a person who
may enforce the soldier's rights and remedies.

6. A soldier's picture or portrait that is not facially identifiable.

7. A photograph of a monument or a memorial that is placed on any goods, wares or
merchandise.

I. For the purposes of this section, "soldier" means any active duty member or
former member of the armed forces of the United States, including any member who was
killed in the line of duty.