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106 Iowa L. Rev. Online 1 (2021)

handle is hein.journals/iowalrb12 and id is 1 raw text is: Protecting the Commercial Value of Iowans' Identity Nationwide: A Response to Colon's Proposed State Statute Nanci K. Carr* ABSTRACT: I read with interest Madisonj Murhammer Colon's How Can Iowans Effectively Prevent the Commercial Misappropriation of Their Identities? Why Iowa Needs a Right of Publicity Statute. While I agree with her that Iowans need protection since Iowa is one of just 15 states without a state right of publicity statute, this Essay proposes that it would be better for Iowans to work toward a federal, rather than state, statute. Without a federal statute, whether a right of publicity exists and how broad the protection is depends upon the state in which one is asserting such a right. Relying on state law makes it difficult to protect one's rights beyond state borders and to plan the cost of compliance with the law of multiple jurisdictions. There is support for a federal statute from a wide variety of sources, including the American Bar Association. I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................ 2 II. COMMERCIAL VALUE OF IDENTITY................................................... 2 A. BACKGROUND AN) HISTORY...................................................... 2 B. STATE STATUTES..................................................................... 3 III. THE NEED FOR A FEDERAL RIGHT OF PUBLICITY STATUTE............... 5 A. SOCIAL MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGYDRIVE THE NEED FOR A FEDERAL RIGUFT OFPUBLICITY-----------------------------...................................... 5 B. SUPPORT FOR A FEDERAJL RGJIT OFPUBLJCJTY STATUTF............... 8 IV. PROPOSED FEDERAL RIGHT OF PUBLICITY STATUTE ........................ 9 A. R GIITs To BE PROTECTED ...................................................... 1o B. TRAANSFE RABJLJTY....................................................................12 C. PosT-M oRTE M RIGCJTs ............................................................ 12 D. SJATUTORYDAmAGES .......................................................... 13 * Assistant Professor of Business Law and the Carande Family Faculty Fellow at California State University, Northridge. J.D., cum laude, Southwestern Law School; B.S., Business Administration, Ball State University. 1