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Tax Issues In NY Publicity Right Becoming Descendible
While some states, like California, recognize post-mortem publicity rights, New York had extended the right of publicity to living New Yorkers only. But as a result of state legislation A5605C/S5959D, signed into law on Nov. 30, 2020, and effective as of May 29, 2021, celebrities domiciled in New York who die after the effective date will be afforded post-mortem rights of publicity for 40 years after death. See, N.Y. Civil Rights Law §50-f.
The statute explicitly provides that those rights are property rights, freely descendible and transferable by the deceased or any subsequent owner, including by contract, gift, trust or any other testamentary instrument. In the absence of an express testamentary transfer, these rights will pass under a residuary disposition.
The law applies to celebrities: Subject to certain exceptions, deceased personalities (defined as those whose name, voice, signature, photograph or likeness has commercial value at the time of, or because of, their death) have a cause of action against anyone who uses those features for commercial purposes without consent. Deceased performers (actors, singers, dancers and musicians) can prevent unauthorized digital replicas.
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Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws
This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.
The Article 8 Opt In
The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.
Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin
With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.
Legal Possession: What Does It Mean?
Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.
The Stranger to the Deed Rule
In 1987, a unanimous Court of Appeals reaffirmed the vitality of the "stranger to the deed" rule, which holds that if a grantor executes a deed to a grantee purporting to create an easement in a third party, the easement is invalid. Daniello v. Wagner, decided by the Second Department on November 29th, makes it clear that not all grantors (or their lawyers) have received the Court of Appeals' message, suggesting that the rule needs re-examination.