Partner Nancy E. Wolff Quoted in The New York Law Journal Article, “’Right to Publicity’ Bills in NY Legislature Stir Free Speech, Liability Concerns”

owan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard LLP partner Nancy E. Wolff was quoted in The New York Law Journal today, in “’Right to Publicity’ Bills in NY Legislature Stir Free Speech, Liability Concerns,” by Andrew Denny.

The following is an excerpt:

Nancy Wolff, a partner at Cowan DeBaets Abrahams & Sheppard who represents a trade association of image libraries, said she has concerns that the removal of a domiciliary requirement would invite forum shoppers to bring claims in New York courts.

Wolff said she did not think a broader-based right to publicity like California’s would be a good fit for New York, where the right is strictly constructed and backed up with more than a century’s worth of case law.

“New York has been sort of First Amendment friendly, media-friendly in interpreting that narrowly,” Wolff said.

Read the full article on The New York Law Journal website here.