Proposed law would apply to t-shirts, other printed items
Author: Jenna Weine
November 2, 2009

The state of California is considering legislation that could affect people involved in t-shirt design and other custom printing businesses.

The bill by state assemblyman Mike Duvall would build on the state's "Marilyn Monroe Law," which currently bans the use of a celebrity's image, voice, signatures or names for 70 years after their death without permission from their estates. Current law provides exceptions for things like books and journalism articles.

Under the provision offered by Duvall, the law would be changed to apply to anyone whose name is considered to have commercial value because they died in a high-profile or newsworthy fashion. The Assemblyman was motivated by the sales of some t-shirts featuring the names of U.S. service personnel who had been killed in action.

"I think it is fundamentally wrong to try to sell someone else's identity like this-at a minimum, your name should be your own personal property," said Duvall earlier this year.

Members of the state assembly approved the bill earlier this year, and a state senate committee is expected to weigh the legislation this week.