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 that would restrict the use of Prince's name and likeness in commercial ventures, affording more control to heirs of the late musician's estate.

They're dubbing it the PRINCE Act, short for the Personal Rights in Names Can Endure law.

A bill is set for introduction Monday in the House and Senate, with its first committee hearing on Tuesday's docket. The Legislature has two weeks remaining in its session, meaning the bill will have to get special clearance to proceed quickly.

Prince died April 21. A cause of death hasn't been officially released. Since his sudden death, surviving relatives have been unable to locate a will, which has prompted court action to determine how any assets will be divided.

Right now, Bremer Trust is the special administrator for Prince' estate. Joel Leviton, an attorney with the law firm that represents Bremer Trust, said the bill  is specific about its protections.

"We're talking about your name, we're talking about your image, we're talking about a photograph of you," he said. "We're talking about, anything that identifies you."

A person's voice would also be covered by the law, which creates a minimum 50-year period of protection after death. the law would take effect in August, but is "expressly made retroactive, including to those deceased individuals who died before the effective date." There is a "fair use" exemption if any in connection with news, public affairs or sports broadcasts.

The measure would apply to everyone, not just celebrities.

If it becomes law, Minnesota would join 17 other states with a right to control publicity that's guaranteed even after death. Supporters say Washington state's law was enacted after the passing of guitarist Jimi Hendrix.

The bill is being introduced by in the House by Rep. Joe Hoppe, R-Chaska, who lives not far from Prince's Paisley Park.

"I've had people say, `Is it just prompted by the death of Prince?' Yeah, essentially it is. Really, what it's doing is it's attempting to recognize the right of publicity postmortem," Hoppe said.

Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, is the chief sponsor in the Senate.

If the measure becomes law, it would allow whoever controls Prince's estate to control the commercial use of his image.

The House Civil Law Committee is scheduled to give the bill its first hearing on Tuesday and the Senate Judiciary Committee was slated to take a look on Wednesday.

Politics and Government News

Capitol View®

Brian Bakst

Author

Minnesota lawmakers are hustling to consider the PRINCE Act, designed to protect the late musician's name and likeness from people who may attempt to profit off his passing.

Legislature hurries to aid Prince heirs

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