Opinion ID: 1327667
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: right of publicity/wrongful appropriation

Text: Mrs. Gignilliat first contends the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment to GSB on her claim for infringement on the right of publicity. We disagree. In her amended complaint, Mrs. Gignilliat asserted a claim entitled Infringement on the Right of Publicity, in which she alleged (1) she owns an enforceable right in the Gignilliat identity, (2) GSB is using some aspect of Gignilliat's identity or persona (his surname) without permission and in a manner that makes Julian Gignilliat identifiable by GSB's use, and (3) GSB's use of the Gignilliat name is likely to cause damage to the commercial value of that persona. Mrs. Gignilliat maintained she was entitled to compensation for the use of Gignilliat's name by GSB and an injunction prohibiting its further use without just compensation. The circuit court granted GSB's motion for summary judgment, finding South Carolina has not recognized the tort of infringement on the right of publicity. The court noted South Carolina does recognize the tort of wrongful appropriation of personality, but stated Mrs. Gignilliat did not label her cause of action as wrongful appropriation and she would not be entitled to recovery under this theory, in any event. The court further ruled Mrs. Gignilliat was not entitled to any recovery for use of the Gignilliat name because her claims for damages concerned only the value of professional goodwill, which has no value apart from the individual professional. The court also found the South Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct prevent payment to Mrs. Gignilliat because they prohibit lawyers from sharing fees with nonlawyers. Finally, the court ruled any claim for publicity or wrongful appropriation does not survive the death of the named individual.