Guernsey’s New Image Rights Legislation – Opportunities for Licensing
Presentation to STEP Luxembourg
16 April 2013
Sam Shires, Group PartnerAO Hall - Legal Specialists
OUTLINE
• Background to Guernsey’s Image Rights Legislation
(“IRL”)
• Outline of the IRL
• Benefits of the IRL
• Licensing Example
BACKGROUND TO THE IRL
• The “Cult of the Celebrity”
• Image Rights = public expression of personality
• Law has not kept up with technology and society
• Market opportunity to provide clarity and certainty
• Complimentary to existing IP Rights
• Personnage (natural person, legal person, joint
personality, group or fictional character)
• Registered personality
• Proprietor
• Anyone can register (in person or via Guernsey resident
agent)
• No restrictions on holding entities
BASIC CONCEPTS / HOW THE IRL WORKS
• Name or alias
• Voice, signature, likeness, appearance, silhouette,
feature, face, expressions (verbal or facial), gestures,
mannerisms and other distinctive characteristic or
personal attribute
• Photograph, illustration, image, picture, moving image or
electronic or other representation
DEFINITION OF IMAGE (SECTION 3 IRL)
• Registered right (on public record)
• Property right
• Image rights (registered and unregistered)
• Infringement protection
• Moral rights
REGISTRATION UNDER IRL GIVES YOU:
EXAMPLE LICENSING STRUCTURE
National FA(National Team
Images)
Image Rights Limited(Individual Images)
Club(Club Images)
Playing Contract
Licence
Playing Contra
ct
Licence
Assignment
Registered Image Rights
• Put world on notice of interest
• Priority over competing interests in Guernsey image
rights
• Statutory rights on infringement of image rights:
- to compel proprietor to act
- “step-in” rights if proprietor does not act
BENEFITS OF REGISTERING LICENCES UNDER THE IRL
Guernsey’s New Image Rights Legislation – Opportunities for Licensing
Presentation to STEP Luxembourg
16 April 2013
Sam Shires, Group PartnerAO Hall - Legal Specialists