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HB 513

Revise laws related to use of name, voice, and likeness of individuals and penalties for unauthorized use

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jill Cohenour

Montana HB 513 strengthens protections against unauthorized commercial use of individuals' names, voices, and likenesses while establishing new penalties for violations.

Chapter Number Assigned
#privacy #informationtechnology #liability
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Bill Summary · HB 513

Legislative bill overview

HB 513 revises Montana's laws governing the use of an individual's name, voice, and likeness, establishing new protections and penalties for unauthorized use. The bill addresses both the rights of individuals to control their personal identity attributes and the consequences for those who violate these rights. It appears designed to modernize Montana's approach to what is commonly called "right of publicity" protections.

Why is this important

As digital technology makes it easier to replicate voices, images, and likenesses (including through deepfakes and AI), clarifying legal protections has real consequences for individuals' ability to control how they are represented. This also affects businesses, content creators, and platforms that use names, voices, or likenesses in advertising, entertainment, or other commercial contexts. The bill's penalty provisions will determine how vigorously such violations are pursued and what remedies are available to victims.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of "likeness": The bill's definition of what constitutes a protectable likeness could be debated—does it include photographs, caricatures, avatars, or AI-generated representations that merely resemble someone?
  • Penalty severity and proportionality: Depending on how penalties are structured, some may argue they're either too lenient to deter misuse or too harsh relative to the violation's actual harm.
  • Exceptions and fair use: The bill likely includes exceptions (news, satire, education, etc.), but drawing these lines—especially regarding parody, commentary, or transformative uses—is inherently contentious.

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

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