Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law Commons^™

The Medium Is The Message: Digital Aesthetics And Publicity Interests In Interactive Entertainment Media, Michael K. Park

University of Colorado Law Review

Recent application of the right of publicity doctrine to interactive media has led to inconsistent rulings and uncertainty as to the doctrine's scope when pitted against First Amendment considerations. These recent court decisions have inadequately explained the disparate application of legal principles, raising serious free speech concerns for expressive activities with other emerging interactive media platforms such as virtual reality. However, these recent decisions have unveiled discernible principles that help explain the disparate approach of the right of publicity doctrine to new interactive media.

This Article articulates the assumptions guiding the disparate application of the right of publicity doctrine. This …