New York’s Post-Mortem Right of Publicity Law Goes into Effect

On May 29, 2021, New York’s post-mortem right of publicity law went into effect, which is codified as NY Civil Rights Law Section 50-f. The new law provides for a post-mortem right of publicity for a “deceased personality” or a “deceased performer” for 40 years after the person’s death. However, it only applies to ”personalities” and “performers” who die on or after May 29, 2021. The law does not apply to those “personalities“ and “performers” who are already deceased. This is quite a big deal in New York, as New York did not previously have a post-mortem right of publicity law.