Re: Rights in real characters

On Wed, 30 Jul 1997, Mark Lemley <mlemley[_at_]mail.law.utexas.edu> wrote:
>
> I just saw the movie Contact. It contains approximately 3 minutes
> worth of speeches "by" Bill Clinton, which were actually created by
> the movie producer from existing film clips of Clinton. Clinton
> apparently did not approve this use, and was not paid.
>
> Is there any reason this wouldn't violate the right of publicity
> in California?

I am wondering... Is there any fine print at the end of the movie that disclaims anything regarding the use of Clinton's "voice" or does the list of credits (again at the end of the movie) mention anything about having the permission from President Clinton or whatever there is at the end of the movie?

I am not a moviegoer but I have noticed that 99.9% of the moviegoers left right after the last scene and before the start of the scrolling credits and other fine prints. So, I am curious if anyone who watched "Contact" stayed to the end of the movie and if the scrolling credits and fine prints say anything about Clinton.

Joseph Pietro Riolo
<riolo[_at_]voicenet.com> Received on Fri Aug 08 1997 - 03:56:47 GMT