Less than three weeks after the state’s most famous musician passed away Minnesota legislatures are rushing to pass legislation that will protect Prince’s name, voice, and likeness. “A law firm working for court-appointed Prince estate administrator Bremer Trust reported on Monday that although courts have suggested Minnesota limits use of people’s name and likeness, it is not embedded in state law.” The death of Prince has spurred action on this legislation, but the bill will apply to other Minnesotans, alive or dead. “The legislation is called Personal Rights In Names Can Endure Act, or PRINCE Act.” There are currently seventeen states that have a similar right of publicity which extends after death. Lawmakers in Minnesota would like to pass this legislation to protect the legacy of a musician who was very important to the State.
See Don Davis, PRINCE Act appears in Minn. Legislature, ABC, May 10, 2016.
Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.
