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Bill

SB 2076

RELATING TO PUBLICITY RIGHTS.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Stanley Chang and 10 co-sponsors

Hawaii bill regulating how individuals' names, images, and likenesses can be commercially used, with amendments advancing it through committee review.

Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2113) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN/JDC.
#digitalreplica #likeness #publicityrights
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 2076

Legislative bill overview

SB 2076 addresses publicity rights in Hawaii, though the specific provisions are not detailed in the available legislative actions. Based on the bill's subject matter and the committee structure (Labor & Tourism, Consumer Protection, Judiciary & Civil Law), it likely creates, expands, or clarifies protections for individuals' rights to control the commercial use of their name, image, likeness, or voice. The bill has advanced through initial committee review with a recommendation for passage and amendments.

Why is this important

Publicity rights legislation affects how businesses can use individuals' identities for commercial purposes—impacting everything from celebrity endorsements to AI-generated deepfakes and social media usage. Clear legal standards protect both individuals from unauthorized commercial exploitation and provide businesses with certainty about permissible uses. Hawaii's action addresses growing concerns about digital identity protection in an era of advanced technology and increased commercialization of personal information.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of "publicity rights" definition: Disagreement over whether protections extend to emerging technologies (AI, deepfakes, voice synthesis) or remain limited to traditional commercial uses
  • Balancing free speech vs. commercial protection: Tension between protecting individuals' economic interests and preserving First Amendment protections for media, parody, and commentary
  • Posthumous rights duration: Questions about how long publicity rights extend after death and whether heirs can commercialize a deceased person's identity indefinitely

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

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