Post-Mortem Likeness Protection
By State.
Some states protect a person's likeness for a century after death. Others, not at all. Here's the variance.
15 jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Term ▼ | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | Indefinite while commercially exploited | Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-25-1104 |
| Indiana | 100 years | Ind. Code § 32-36-1-8(a) |
| Washington | 75 years (personalities) / 10 years (individuals) | RCW 63.60.040 |
| California | 70 years | Cal. Civ. Code § 3344.1(g) |
| Hawaii | 70 years | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 482P-4 |
| Ohio | 60 years (10 years for armed forces) | Ohio Rev. Code § 2741.02 |
| Illinois | 50 years | 765 ILCS 1075/30 |
| Kentucky | 50 years (public figures only) | KRS § 391.170(2) |
| Louisiana | 50 years (audiovisual performance right expires at death) | La. R.S. 51:470.3 |
| Nevada | 50 years | NRS 597.790(1) |
| Texas | 50 years | Tex. Prop. Code § 26.012(d) |
| Florida | 40 years | Fla. Stat. § 540.08(5) |
| New York | 40 years | N.Y. Civ. Rights L. § 50-f(8) |
| Pennsylvania | 30 years | 42 Pa.C.S. § 8316(c) |
| Virginia | 20 years | Va. Code § 8.01-40(B) |
No jurisdictions match.
States not listed (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Utah, and all common-law jurisdictions) do not have a codified post-mortem term.