What is the Right of Publicity?

• A. Government regulation of fame
• B. Control of the use of their name and likeness in a commercial setting
• C. Right to privacy in one's home
• D. Patent rights

Answer: (B)

The right of publicity is the ability of a person to control how their name, image, likeness, or identity is used for commercial purposes. It gives individuals (including celebrities and private persons) the power to authorize or stop endorsements, advertising, merchandise, or other commercial uses of their persona. This protection helps preserve the economic value of a person’s identity and prevents unauthorized exploitation to promote products or services.

This isn’t about privacy in one’s private life or home, which concerns keeping personal information or private spaces out of public view. It isn’t about government regulation of fame, which isn’t a recognized legal regime. And it isn’t about patent rights, which cover inventions. So the option describing control of the use of a person’s name and likeness in a commercial setting best matches the concept.