Human Dignity and the Commercial Appropriation of Personality: Towards a Cosmopolitan Consensus in Publicity Rights?

This article is concerned with the commercial appropriation of human personality and its regulation in different legal systems. Where accepted, so called publicity rights allow for the exclusive commercial exercise of a persona s publicity values. A tradable worth can be found in many personal characteristics such as voice, signature or pseudonym. Predominantly, however, it accrues to one s name and likeness. It is argued that such potential rights are inherent in every human being.