What's Your Name, Man?

The right of publicity allows an individual to control the commercial use of his or her name, image, and other aspects of his or her identity. While this issue has never received much attention in the estate and gift tax world, it recently became notable because of Michael Jackson and the tax case concerning his estate. The concept of putting protections in place to control the commercial use of one’s name and image is not just for superstars. It should also be for many high net worth public figures, who would benefit from planning concerning the right of publicity.