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Bill

Bill

HB 2607

RELATING TO PUBLICITY RIGHTS.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Della Belatti and 13 co-sponsors

HB 2607 establishes or revises Hawaii's publicity rights laws to protect individuals' names, images, and likenesses from unauthorized commercial exploitation.

Referred to ECD, JHA, referral sheet 6
#artificialintelligence #deepfakes #publicityrights
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2607

Legislative bill overview

HB 2607 addresses publicity rights in Hawaii, likely establishing or modifying legal protections for individuals' names, likenesses, voices, or images from unauthorized commercial use. The bill has been referred to both the Economic and Community Development (ECD) committee and the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs (JHA) committee, suggesting it involves both commercial regulation and legal/constitutional considerations.

Why is this important

Publicity rights laws affect individuals' ability to control how their identity is used commercially—relevant for celebrities, athletes, public figures, and increasingly ordinary people in the digital age. This legislation could impact businesses using AI-generated likenesses, social media platforms, advertising practices, and potentially post-mortem rights protections, while also raising questions about balancing commercial interests with free speech.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope and definition: Whether the law covers digital/AI-generated representations, deepfakes, or only traditional uses of name and likeness
  • Duration of rights: Whether publicity rights extend indefinitely after death (affecting estates and heirs) or expire after a set period
  • Exceptions for public interest: How to balance individuals' rights against journalism, satire, parody, educational use, and political speech protections
  • Business compliance: The regulatory burden and liability exposure for platforms, advertisers, and technology companies operating in Hawaii

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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