Digital entertainment experiences utilizing artist likenesses are becoming increasingly popular, however, they can create legal pitfalls when the proper authorizations are not obtained. For example, the estate of comedian George Carlin recently settled a lawsuit against an AI-generated imitation of the comedian. In January, an unauthorized hour-long special was released called “George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead” featuring an AI-generated voice performing Carlin-like material. The special was removed after the lawsuit was filed, with the estate of Carlin claiming violation of copyright as well as Carlin’s post-mortem Right of Publicity under California law.
數位娛樂業感受到利用藝人酷似樣貌將造成旋風；然而，未獲得適當的授權會有法律的風險。舉例：諧星George Carlin最近與人工智能生成模仿本人而有訟爭達成和解。今年1月，未獲授權長達1小時特別稱作“George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead”以人工智能生成聲音表演酷似Carlin演出而發表。該特輯於起訴後被移除，Carlin遺產管理人主張該人工智能生成聲音違反著作權法，同時主張被告亦違反加州知名度法。
In another example, the rock group KISS sold their music catalog, name, images, and likeness to Pophouse Entertainment for the sum of $300 million. At the end of their final concert on their farewell tour, digital avatars of the band performed, and going forward, Pophouse is overseeing digital KISS shows planned for 2027.
另一個例子，搖滾團體Kiss以3億美元將他們的音樂目錄、姓名、圖像與酷似樣貌以3億美元賣給Pophouse Entertainment。在他們告別巡迴演唱會最後一場，以數位分身演出；未來，Pophouse計畫於2027年推出數位Kiss秀。
The difference between the aforementioned examples is that KISS is authorizing ongoing use of their likenesses, while the estate of Carlin did not. There is no such thing as a Federal Right of Publicity. Instead, protection varies state by state. For example, Tennessee has some of the most protective laws on this issue primarily due to the use of Elvis Presley’s name and likeness. This is not the same in all states.
上述兩例子之差異在於Kiss利用正進行授權自己的酷似樣貌，然而Carlin遺產並不是。知名度無聯邦法的規範，取而代之，其保護各州不同。田納西州對知名度有著最周延的保護，特別是利用貓王的姓名與酷似樣貌，與其他各州不盡相同。
The Right of Publicity is protected while the individual is alive, or up to 50 years after death if the person died after the statute went into effect on January 1, 1999. Earlier common law rights in Illinois did not protect individuals after death.
知名度於人生存期間受保護，或者死後50年，依制定法1999年1月1日生效後起算。早期伊利諾州習慣法未保護死後知名度。
Under the Right of Publicity Act, an individual’s identity is protected from unauthorized “commercial” uses of their identity, which could mean their name, signature, photograph, image, likeness, or voice. This includes their actual identity or any other name by which an individual is known, such as stage names. With postmortem right of publicity, the right to authorize use of a person’s identities is passed to that person’s heirs or beneficiaries.
依知名度法，人之身分同一性免於未授權之商業利用而受保護，其意指其姓名、簽名、照片、圖像、酷似樣貌或聲音。這包括它們實際的身分或其他眾所周知的別名，例如：藝名。隨著承認死後知名度，授權他人利用已故者身分可過繼給已故者之繼承人或受益人。