Is it illegal to use the name or likeness of a deceased celebrity as one’s business name? Yesterday, the Suzhou Industrial Park Court issued a ruling. A Suzhou restaurant had named itself as the late American film star Audrey Hepburn and displayed her portrait inside the restaurant. This led to a lawsuit filed by Audrey Hepburn’s son. In the ruling, the Suzhou Industrial Park Court ordered the restaurant to immediately cease the infringement and compensate Audrey Hepburn’s son for damages amounting to RMB 200,000（30K dollars）. Under China’s Civil Code, every individual possesses personality rights. The right to one’s name and likeness constitutes a vital component of these personality rights. Therefore, using the name or likeness of a deceased public figure for promotional purposes is an illegal act. I am Attorney Lyu from Hohhot. If you have any legal questions, feel free to contact me. If you like my video, please give it a thumbs up, subscribe, and share it.
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