Law Commons^™

The Price Of Fame: The Celebrity Image As A Commodity And The Right Of Publicity, Ty Ford

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

This Note will examine several recent cases that illustrate how major stars are using the ever-widening scope of such doctrines to control their images in the media. These examples show how the right of publicity has evolved from a right designed to protect a performer's uniquely personal attributes and stylings from unauthorized (and unpaid for) exploitation into a legal fortress constructed around movie-star images that allows the star to separate unwanted attention from necessary popularity. Furthermore, it will explore the inherent contradictions in such a development, showing how it can be used to manipulate and control the very peripheral industries, …