Image Rights A World First For Guernsey

The Potential

Guernsey has been promising innovative intellectual property legislation for a while now. A lot has been done already to bring this vision into reality. With the role of the super injunction being hotly debated in the UK recently, the Policy letter in August Billet reflects the far sighted and visionary approach adopted by the Guernsey IP Office and the Commerce and Employment Department.

This legislation, if enacted, will be a world first and will see Guernsey bringing in a registrable image right. This IP right will define the rights of an individual to protect their own image and balance them against the freedom of news reporting and the public interest. This legislation will support the strategic plan to diversify Guernsey's economy whilst utilising Guernsey's existing skills base. It also has the potential to create new job opportunities and to attract business to the island.