Guernsey’s New Image Rights Legislation – Opportunities for Licensing

Presentation to STEP Luxembourg

16 April 2013

Sam Shires, Group Partner

AO 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 C

ontract

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 Partner

AO Hall - Legal Specialists