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- Guernsey IP expert to speak at Europe’s No 1 tax conference for sports stars and performers
Guernsey IP expert to speak at Europe’s No 1 tax conference for sports stars and performers
Advisers to sports stars, performers, artists and entertainers
will hear from Guernsey IP expert Jason Romer how Guernsey's new
image rights regime can protect their clients' interests next
week.
IBC Events' conference on Private Client Tax for Entertainers
& Sportspeople is Europe's definitive update on strategic tax
and finance planning for this sector.
Channel Islands law firm Collas Crill's joint managing partner,
Mr Romer will address the 17 January conference on Guernsey's new
image rights legislation, offshoring intellectual property,
potential structures and other considerations for this specialist
audience.
Mr Romer said: "Regardless of whether fame is exploited or
guarded, in today's celebrity obsessed world it is important that
individuals have control over the use of their name, likeness,
distinctiveness and personality: their 'image'.
"Many jurisdictions have recognised an individual's right to
their image - or 'image right' - such as the right of publicity in
the US. In the UK, celebrities have sought to control their image
using trade marks, data protection, passing off and advertising
standards. However, very few jurisdictions have placed image rights
on a statutory footing and none allow for the actual registration
of these rights. Guernsey is about to change this.
"On 30 September 2011, the States of Guernsey approved the
drafting of a new law that will see the introduction of registrable
image rights, potentially in time for London's Olympic Games and
the 2012/13 football transfer season. Celebrities, sports stars and
other recognisable figures will be able to register a Guernsey
image right protecting the constituent parts of their 'image',
including name, distinctive expressions, gestures, characteristics
and attributes."
Mr Romer, a partner in the Commercial department of Collas Crill
and a director of Collas Crill IP, has specialist IP post-graduate
qualifications. He is the author of the Guernsey chapter of
Trademarks around the World, and the chapter in "Managing Tax and
Intellectual Property" on Where to Manage your IP.
Other topics to be debated at the conference include the UK tax
treatment of entertainers and Performers, tax planning for touring
worldwide, statutory residence for entertainers and royalties in
sport and entertainment. Now in its 17th year, the event is being
held on 17th January 2012 at The Russell Hotel, London.