AI & Dead Celebrities
New Atlantic article relies on Consor expertise
Jeff Anderson, Managing Director of Consor, was recently featured in a new Atlantic article focused on unmasking the ever-evolving world of dead celebrity monetization via name, image, and likeness (NIL) licensing. Given the opportunities created by the widespread introduction of AI, NIL deals are proliferating. Specifically, the article focuses on changes in estate ownership and new monetization avenues, areas with which Consor and Mr. Anderson are intimately familiar. With AI-generation now affording deceased actors the ability to be “resurrected” in new projects – such as James Dean’s upcoming role in Back to Eden – there are new monetization paths that cannot be overlooked when calculating an estate’s value.
Furthermore, as emphasized by Mr. Anderson, estates can now license their celebrities’ NIL for new content, while maintaining the ability to “control how they act” on and off camera; another key value input which carries great weight in the valuation process. A deeper look into the valuation process can be found in a book co-authored by Mr. Anderson and published by the ABA entitled Right of Publicity: Analysis, Valuation, and the Law. Somewhat presciently, the authors stress that the ability to effectively manage “dead celebrities” is a great benefit—and with the addition of AI to the equation, these dead celebrities can now be brought back to life.
As seasoned valuation experts, Consor is acutely aware of the changing landscape of celebrity estates, and how new innovations affect estate values for the future. Consor offers a range of highly specialized services to help clients understand the value of their intellectual property portfolio and how that value is impacted as a result of market conditions and new innovations. We work closely with clients and the courts on time-sensitive projects to unlock the value contained within the intellectual property. Our work is done according to the strategy that best suits a client’s specific needs: whether that be licensing, partial sale, reorganization, merger, joint venture, or liquidation, simply let us know your needs. Email us at info@consor.com or call us at (858) 454-9091.