Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB1025 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	sb1025
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 1025
8	8	I4 5lr3623
9	9	CF HB 1407
10	10	By: Senator Mautz
11	11	Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2025
12	12	Assigned to: Rules
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Commercial Law – Voice and Visual Likeness – Digital Replication Rights 2
19	19	(Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe Act – NO FAKES 3
20	20	Act) 4
21	21
22	22	FOR the purpose of establishing that each individual and a certain right holder have the 5
23	23	right to authorize the use of the voice or visual likeness of the individual in a digital 6
24	24	replica; providing that the right does not expire on the death of the individual and is 7
25	25	transferable or licensable in a certain manner; providing that the right terminates 8
26	26	after a certain period of time; requiring an online service to designate an agent to 9
27	27	receive a certain notification alleging a violation of this Act; requiring the Secretary 10
28	28	of State to maintain and make available certain information that the Secretary of 11
29	29	State receives from certain parties; providing that a person shall be civilly liable for 12
30	30	engaging in certain conduct in violation of this Act; providing that a person may not 13
31	31	be held civilly liable under certain circumstances; providing that an online service 14
32	32	may restore removed material under certain circumstances; and generally relating 15
33	33	to a right to the use of an individual’s voice or visual likeness in a digital replica. 16
34	34
35	35	BY adding to 17
36	36	Article – Commercial Law 18
37	37	Section 11–1701 through 11–1707 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 17. Rights 19
38	38	in Digital Replicas” 20
39	39	Annotated Code of Maryland 21
40	40	(2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 22
41	41
42	42	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 23
43	43	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 24
44	44
45	45	Article – Commercial Law 25
46	46
47	47	SUBTITLE 17. RIGHTS IN DIGITAL REPLICAS. 26 2 SENATE BILL 1025
48	48
49	49
50	50
51	51	11–1701. 1
52	52
53	53	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 2
54	54	INDICATED. 3
55	55
56	56	(B) “DIGITAL REPLICA ” MEANS A NEWLY CREATE D, 4
57	57	COMPUTER –GENERATED , HIGHLY REALISTIC ELE CTRONIC REPRESENTATI ON THAT 5
58	58	IS READILY IDENTIFIA BLE AS THE VOICE OR VISUAL LIKENESS OF A N INDIVIDUAL 6
59	59	THAT: 7
60	60
61	61	(1) IS EMBODIED IN A SOUN D RECORDING , AN IMAGE , AN 8
62	62	AUDIOVISUAL WORK , INCLUDING AN AUDIOVI SUAL WORK THAT DOES NOT HAVE ANY 9
63	63	ACCOMPANYING SOUNDS , OR A TRANSMISSION : 10
64	64
65	65	(I) IN WHICH THE ACTUAL I NDIVIDUAL DID NOT AC TUALLY 11
66	66	PERFORM OR APPEAR ; OR 12
67	67
68	68	(II) THAT IS A VERSION OF A SOUND RECORDING , AN IMAGE, AN 13
69	69	AUDIOVISUAL WORK , OR A TRANSMISSION IN WHICH THE ACTUAL IND IVIDUAL DID 14
70	70	PERFORM OR APPEAR , BUT THE FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTER OF THE PERFORMANCE 15
71	71	OR APPEARANCE HAS BE EN MATERIALLY ALTERE D; AND 16
72	72
73	73	(2) DOES NOT INCLUDE , WHEN AUTHORIZED BY T HE COPYRIGHT 17
74	74	HOLDER: 18
75	75
76	76	(I) THE ELECTRONIC REPROD UCTION OF A SOUND RE CORDING 19
77	77	OR AN AUDIOVISUAL WO RK; 20
78	78
79	79	(II) THE USE OF A SAMPLE O F ONE SOUND RECORDING OR 21
80	80	AUDIOVISUAL WORK WIT HIN ANOTHER SOUND RE CORDING OR AUDIOVISU AL WORK; 22
81	81	OR 23
82	82
83	83	(III) THE REMIXING, MASTERING, OR DIGITAL REMASTERI NG OF 24
84	84	A SOUND RECORDING OR AN AUDIOVISUAL WORK . 25
85	85
86	86	(C) “INDIVIDUAL” MEANS A HUMAN BEING , LIVING OR DEAD. 26
87	87
88	88	(D) (1) “ONLINE SERVICE” MEANS: 27
89	89
90	90	(I) A PUBLIC–FACING WEBSITE , AN ONLINE APPLICATIO N, A 28
91	91	MOBILE APPLICATION , OR A VIRTUAL REALITY ENVIRONMENT THAT 29
92	92	PREDOMINANTLY PROVID ES A COMMUNITY FORUM FOR USER –GENERATED 30 SENATE BILL 1025 3
93	93
94	94
95	95	CONTENT, SUCH AS SHARING VIDE OS, IMAGES, GAMES, AUDIO FILES, OR OTHER 1
96	96	MATERIAL; OR 2
97	97
98	98	(II) A DIGITAL MUSIC PROVID ER, AS DEFINED IN 17 U.S.C. § 3
99	99	115(E). 4
100	100
101	101	(2) “ONLINE SERVICE ” INCLUDES A SOCIAL ME DIA SERVICE, A 5
102	102	SOCIAL NETWORK , OR AN APPLICATION ST ORE. 6
103	103
104	104	(3) “ONLINE SERVICE ” DOES NOT INCLUDE A S ERVICE BY WIRE OR 7
105	105	RADIO THAT PROVIDES THE CAPABILITY TO TR ANSMIT DATA TO AND R ECEIVE DATA 8
106	106	FROM ALL, OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL , INTERNET ENDPOINTS , INCLUDING ANY 9
107	107	CAPABILITIES THAT AR E INCIDENTAL TO ENAB LE THE OPERATION OF THE 10
108	108	COMMUNICATIONS SERVI CE OF: 11
109	109
110	110	(I) A PROVIDER OF ONLIN E SERVICES OR NETWOR K ACCESS; 12
111	111	OR 13
112	112
113	113	(II) THE OPERATOR OF FACIL ITIES FOR THE SERVIC E. 14
114	114
115	115	(E) “PRODUCTION” MEANS THE CREATION O F A DIGITAL REPLICA . 15
116	116
117	117	(F) “RIGHT HOLDER ” MEANS THE INDIVIDUAL WHOSE VOICE OR VISUA L 16
118	118	LIKENESS IS AT ISSUE WITH RESPECT TO A DI GITAL REPLICA OR ANY PE RSON WHO 17
119	119	HAS ACQUIRED , THROUGH A LICENSE , INHERITANCE , OR OTHERWISE , THE RIGHT TO 18
120	120	AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE VOICE OR VISUAL LIKENESS IN A DIGITA L REPLICA. 19
121	121
122	122	(G) “SOUND RECORDING ARTIS T” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO CREATES OR 20
123	123	PERFORMS IN SOUN D RECORDINGS FOR ECO NOMIC GAIN OR FOR TH E LIVELIHOOD 21
124	124	OF THE INDIVIDUAL . 22
125	125
126	126	11–1702. 23
127	127
128	128	(A) (1) SUBJECT TO THE LIMITA TIONS OF THIS SUBTIT LE, EACH 24
129	129	INDIVIDUAL OR RIGHT HOLDER SHALL HAVE TH E RIGHT TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF 25
130	130	THE VOICE OR VISUAL LIKENESS OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN A DIGI TAL REPLICA. 26
131	131
132	132	(2) THE RIGHT IS: 27
133	133
134	134	(I) A PROPERTY RIGHT ; 28
135	135
136	136	(II) NOT ASSIGNABLE DURING THE LIFE OF THE INDI VIDUAL; 29
137	137	AND 30 4 SENATE BILL 1025
138	138
139	139
140	140
141	141	(III) LICENSABLE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART , EXCLUSIVELY OR 1
142	142	NONEXCLUSIVELY , BY THE RIGHT HOLDER . 2
143	143
144	144	(3) THE RIGHT DOES NOT EXPIRE ON TH E DEATH OF THE INDIV IDUAL 3
145	145	REGARDLESS OF WHETHE R THE RIGHT IS COMME RCIALLY EXPLOITED BY THE 4
146	146	INDIVIDUAL DURING TH E INDIVIDUAL’S LIFETIME. 5
147	147
148	148	(B) ON THE DEATH OF AN IN DIVIDUAL: 6
149	149
150	150	(1) THE RIGHT PROVIDED UN DER THIS SECTION MAY BE 7
151	151	TRANSFERRED AND LICENSED , IN WHOLE OR IN PART , BY THE EXECUTORS , HEIRS, 8
152	152	ASSIGNS, LICENSEES, OR DEVISEES OF THE I NDIVIDUAL; AND 9
153	153
154	154	(2) OWNERSHIP OF THE RIGH T MAY BE: 10
155	155
156	156	(I) TRANSFERRED , IN WHOLE OR IN PART , BY ANY MEANS OF 11
157	157	CONVEYANCE OR BY OPE RATION OF LAW; OR 12
158	158
159	159	(II) BEQUEATHED BY WILL OR PASS AS PERSONAL PRO PERTY BY 13
160	160	THE APPLICABLE LAWS OF INTESTATE SUCCESS ION. 14
161	161
162	162	(C) (1) THE RIGHT PROVIDED UN DER THIS SECTION IS EXCLUSIVE TO: 15
163	163
164	164	(I) SUBJECT TO THE LICENS ING OF THE RIGHT DUR ING THE 16
165	165	LIFETIME OF THE INDI VIDUAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 11–1703 OF THIS SUBTITLE , 17
166	166	THE INDIVIDUAL ; AND 18
167	167
168	168	(II) THE RIGHT HOLDER : 19
169	169
170	170	1. FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS AFTER THE DEAT H OF 20
171	171	THE INDIVIDUAL ; AND 21
172	172
173	173	2. IF THE RIGHT HOLDER D EMONSTRATES ACTIVE A ND 22
174	174	AUTHORIZED PUBLIC US E OF THE VOICE OR VI SUAL LIKENESS OF THE INDIVIDUAL 23
175	175	DURING THE 2–YEAR PERIOD IMMEDIAT ELY PRECEDING THE EX PIRATION OF THE 24
176	176	10–YEAR PERIOD DESCRIBE D IN ITEM 1 OF THIS ITEM, SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) 25
177	177	OF THIS SUBSECTION , FOR AN ADDITIONAL 5–YEAR PERIOD. 26
178	178
179	179	(2) THE RIGHT HOLDER DESC RIBED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1)(II) OF 27
180	180	THIS SUBSECTION MAY CONTINUE TO RENEW TH E RIGHT FOR ADDITION AL 5–YEAR 28
181	181	INCREMENTS IF THE RI GHT HOLDER CAN DEMON STRATE AUTHORIZED PU BLIC USE 29
182	182	OF THE VOICE OR VISU AL LIKENESS OF THE I NDIVIDUAL DURING THE 2–YEAR 30 SENATE BILL 1025 5
183	183
184	184
185	185	PERIOD IMMEDIATEL Y PRECEDING THE EXPI RATION OF EACH ADDIT IONAL 5–YEAR 1
186	186	PERIOD. 2
187	187
188	188	(D) THE RIGHT PROVIDED UN DER THIS SECTION SHA LL TERMINATE ON THE 3
189	189	DATE THAT IS THE EAR LIER OF: 4
190	190
191	191	(1) THE DATE ON WHICH THE 10–YEAR PERIOD OR ADDIT IONAL 5
192	192	5–YEAR PERIOD DESCRIBE D IN SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION TERM INATES 6
193	193	WITHOUT RENEWAL ; OR 7
194	194
195	195	(2) THE DATE THAT IS 70 YEARS AFTER THE DEAT H OF THE 8
196	196	INDIVIDUAL DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION. 9
197	197
198	198	11–1703. 10
199	199
200	200	(A) A LICENSE DESCRIBED IN § 11–1702(A)(2)(III) OF THIS SUBTITLE SHA LL 11
201	201	BE VALID: 12
202	202
203	203	(1) WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL DESCRIBED IN § 11–1702(A) OF THIS 13
204	204	SUBTITLE IS LIVING A ND ONLY TO THE EXTEN T THAT THE LICENSE D URATION DOES 14
205	205	NOT EXCEED 10 YEARS; AND 15
206	206
207	207	(2) ONLY IF THE LICENSE A GREEMENT: 16
208	208
209	209	(I) IS IN WRITING AND SIG NED BY THE INDIVIDUA L OR AN 17
210	210	AUTHORIZED REPRESENT ATIVE OF THE INDIVID UAL; AND 18
211	211
212	212	(II) INCLUDES A REASONABLY SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE 19
213	213	INTENDED USES OF THE APPLICABLE DIGITAL R EPLICA. 20
214	214
215	215	(B) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A LICENSE 21
216	216	DESCRIBED IN § 11–1702(A)(2)(III) OF THIS SUBTITLE INV OLVING A LIVING MINO R 22
217	217	IS VALID ONLY IF: 23
218	218
219	219	(I) THE LICENSE DURATION DOES NOT EXCEED 5 YEARS; 24
220	220
221	221	(II) THE LICENSE AGREEMENT : 25
222	222
223	223	1. IS IN WRITING AND SIG NED BY THE INDIVIDUA L OR AN 26
224	224	AUTHORIZED REPRESENT ATIVE OF THE INDIVID UAL; AND 27
225	225
226	226	2. INCLUDES A REASONABLY SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF 28
227	227	THE INTENDED USES OF THE DIGITAL REPLICA ; AND 29 6 SENATE BILL 1025
228	228
229	229
230	230
231	231	(III) A COURT APPROVES THE L ICENSE IN ANY MANNER 1
232	232	REQUIRED BY LAW , AS APPLICABLE. 2
233	233
234	234	(2) NOTWITHSTANDING PARAG RAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A 3
235	235	LICENSE FOR A MI NOR SHALL TERMINATE WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL REACHES 18 4
236	236	YEARS OF AGE. 5
237	237
238	238	(C) THE PROVISIONS OF SUB SECTIONS (A) AND (B) OF THIS SECTION MAY 6
239	239	NOT BE CONSTRUED TO : 7
240	240
241	241	(1) APPLY IF A LICENSE IS GOVERNED BY A COLLEC TIVE BARGAINING 8
242	242	AGREEMENT THAT ADDRE SSES DIGITAL REPL ICAS; 9
243	243
244	244	(2) AFFECT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A LICE NSE OR RELATED 10
245	245	CONTRACT OTHER THAN THOSE DESCRIBED UNDE R THIS SECTION; OR 11
246	246
247	247	(3) AFFECT A FUTURE INTER EST IN A LICENSE OR RELATED 12
248	248	CONTRACT AFTER THE L ICENSE HAS EXPIRED . 13
249	249
250	250	(D) A POSTMORTEM TRANSFER OR LICENSE AS DESCRIBED IN § 14
251	251	11–1702(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE SHA LL BE VALID ONLY IF THE TRANSFER AGREEME NT 15
252	252	OR LICENSE AGREEMENT IS IN WRITING AND SI GNED BY THE RIGHT HO LDER OR AN 16
253	253	AUTHORIZED REPRESENT ATIVE OF THE RIGHT H OLDER. 17
254	254
255	255	(E) A DIGITAL REPLICA MAY CONTINUE TO BE UTILIZED IN A MANNER 18
256	256	CONSISTENT WITH THE TERMS OF A LICENSE A FTER THE EXPIRATION OR 19
257	257	TERMINATION OF THE L ICENSE IF: 20
258	258
259	259	(1) THE DIGITAL REPLICA I S EMBODIED IN A SOUN D RECORDING , AN 21
260	260	IMAGE, AN AUDIOVISUAL WORK , INCLUDING AN AUDIOVI SUAL WORK THAT DOES NOT 22
261	261	HAVE ANY ACCOMPANYIN G SOUNDS, OR A TRANSMISSION ; AND 23
262	262
263	263	(2) THE DIGITAL REPLICA I S AUTHORIZED UNDER T HE TERMS OF THE 24
264	264	LICENSE TO CONTINUE TO BE USE D AFTER THE LICENSE EXPIRES OR TERMINATE S. 25
265	265
266	266	11–1704. 26
267	267
268	268	(A) THE RENEWAL OF A POST MORTEM RIGHT UNDER § 11–1702(B)(2)(II) OF 27
269	269	THIS SUBTITLE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE IF , DURING THE APPLICABL E 2–YEAR 28
270	270	RENEWAL PERIOD SPECI FIED UNDER § 11–1702(C) OF THIS SUBTITLE, THE RIGHT 29
271	271	HOLDER FILES A NOTIC E WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE THAT COMPLIES W ITH 30 SENATE BILL 1025 7
272	272
273	273
274	274	THE REQUIREMENTS REG ARDING FORM AND FILI NG PROCEDURES AS THE 1
275	275	SECRETARY OF STATE MAY PRESCRIBE B Y REGULATION AND THA T CONTAINS: 2
276	276
277	277	(1) THE NAME OF THE DECEA SED INDIVIDUAL; 3
278	278
279	279	(2) A STATEMENT, UNDER PENALTY OF PER JURY, THAT THE RIGHT 4
280	280	HOLDER HAS ENGAGED I N ACTIVE AND AUTHORI ZED USE OF THE VOICE OR VISUAL 5
281	281	LIKENESS DURING THE APPLICABLE 2–YEAR PERIOD; 6
282	282
283	283	(3) THE IDENTITY OF AND C ONTACT INFORMATION F OR THE RIGHT 7
284	284	HOLDER; AND 8
285	285
286	286	(4) ANY OTHER INFORMATION THE SECRETARY OF STATE REQUIRES . 9
287	287
288	288	(B) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE 10
289	289	SECRETARY OF STATE: 11
290	290
291	291	(I) SHALL MAINTAIN AN UP –TO–DATE DIRECTORY OF 12
292	292	POSTMORTEM DIGITAL R EPLICATION RIGHTS RE GISTERED UNDER THIS SECTION; 13
293	293
294	294	(II) SHALL MAKE THE DIRECT ORY DESCRIBED IN ITE M (I) OF 14
295	295	THIS PARAGRAPH AVAIL ABLE TO THE PUBLIC F OR INSPECTION ONLINE ; AND 15
296	296
297	297	(III) MAY CHARGE A REASONAB LE FILING FEE TO A R IGHT 16
298	298	HOLDER WHO FILES IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBS ECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 17
299	299
300	300	(2) THE FILING FEE CHARGE D BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE UNDER 18
301	301	PARAGRAPH (1)(III) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL BE BASED ON THE COSTS OF 19
302	302	MAINTAINING THE DIRE CTORY. 20
303	303
304	304	11–1705. 21
305	305
306	306	(A) A PERSON SHALL BE LIAB LE IN AN ACTION BROU GHT UNDER § 11–1707 22
307	307	OF THIS SUBTITLE IF THE PERSON: 23
308	308
309	309	(1) PRODUCES A DIGITAL RE PLICA WITHOUT CONSEN T OF THE 24
310	310	APPLICABLE RIGHT HOL DER; OR 25
311	311
312	312	(2) PUBLISHES, REPRODUCES , DISPLAYS, DISTRIBUTES, TRANSMITS, 26
313	313	OR OTHERWISE MAKES A VAILABLE TO THE PUBL IC A DIGITAL REPLICA WITHOUT 27
314	314	CONSENT OF THE APPLI CABLE RIGHT HOLDER . 28
315	315	8 SENATE BILL 1025
316	316
317	317
318	318	(B) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , TO INCUR 1
319	319	LIABILITY UNDER THIS SECTION, A PERSON ENGAGING IN AN ACTIVITY DESCRIBE D 2
320	320	UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION MUST HAVE ACTUAL KNOWLEDG E OR 3
321	321	HAVE WILLFULLY ACTED IN A MANNER TO A VOID ANY KNOWLEDGE T HAT: 4
322	322
323	323	(I) THE APPLICABLE MATERI AL IS A DIGITAL REPL ICA; AND 5
324	324
325	325	(II) THE DIGITAL REPLICA W AS NOT AUTHORIZED BY THE 6
326	326	APPLICABLE RIGHT HOL DER. 7
327	327
328	328	(2) FOR PURPOSES OF PARAG RAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , ACTUAL 8
329	329	KNOWLEDGE CAN BE EST ABLISHED THROUGH A NOTIFICATI ON THAT SATISFIES TH E 9
330	330	REQUIREMENTS UNDER § 11–1706(F) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 10
331	331
332	332	(C) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION, IT IS NOT A 11
333	333	VIOLATION OF SUBSECT ION (A) OF THIS SECTION IF: 12
334	334
335	335	(1) (I) THE APPLICABLE DIGITA L REPLICA IS PRODUCED OR USED 13
336	336	IN A BONA FIDE NEWS , PUBLIC AFFAIRS, OR SPORTS BROADCAST OR ACCOUNT; AND 14
337	337
338	338	(II) THE DIGITAL REPLICA I S THE SUBJECT OF , OR IS 15
339	339	MATERIALLY RELEVANT TO, THE SUBJECT OF THE B ROADCAST OR ACCOUNT ; 16
340	340
341	341	(2) THE APPLICABLE DIGITA L REPLICA IS A REP RESENTATION OF 17
342	342	THE APPLICABLE INDIV IDUAL AS THE INDIVID UAL IN A DOCUMENTARY OR IN A 18
343	343	HISTORICAL OR BIOGRA PHICAL MANNER , INCLUDING SOME DEGRE E OF 19
344	344	FICTIONALIZATION , UNLESS: 20
345	345
346	346	(I) THE PRODUCTION OR USE OF THE DIGITAL REPLI CA 21
347	347	CREATES THE FALSE IM PRESSION THE WORK IS AN AUTHENTIC SOUND RECORDING , 22
348	348	IMAGE, TRANSMISSION , OR AUDIOVISUAL WORK IN WHICH THE INDIVID UAL 23
349	349	PARTICIPATED ; OR 24
350	350
351	351	(II) THE DIGITAL REPLICA I S EMBODIED IN A MUSI CAL SOUND 25
352	352	RECORDING THAT IS SY NCHRONIZED TO ACCOMP ANY A MOTION PICTURE OR OTHER 26
353	353	AUDIOVISUAL WORK, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE USE OF THAT DIGITAL 27
354	354	REPLICA IS PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION OR 28
355	355	ARTICLE 40 OF THE MARYLAND DECLARATION OF RIGHTS; 29
356	356
357	357	(3) THE APPLICABLE DIGITA L REPLICA IS PRODUCE D OR USED 30
358	358	CONSISTENT WITH THE PUBLIC INTE REST IN BONA FIDE CO MMENTARY , CRITICISM, 31
359	359	SCHOLARSHIP , SATIRE, OR PARODY; 32
360	360	SENATE BILL 1025 9
361	361
362	362
363	363	(4) THE USE OF THE APPLIC ABLE DIGITAL REPLICA IS FLEETING OR 1
364	364	NEGLIGIBLE; OR 2
365	365
366	366	(5) THE APPLICABLE DIGITA L REPLICA IS USED IN AN 3
367	367	ADVERTISEMENT OR COM MERCIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR A P URPOSE DESCRIBED IN 4
368	368	ITEMS (1) THROUGH (4) OF THIS SUBSECTION A ND THE APPLICABLE DI GITAL 5
369	369	REPLICA IS RELEVANT TO THE SUBJECT OF TH E WORK BEING ADVERTI SED OR 6
370	370	ANNOUNCED . 7
371	371
372	372	(D) SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY IF THE APP LICABLE 8
373	373	DIGITAL REPLICA IS U SED TO DEPICT SEXUAL LY EXPLICIT CONDUCT , AS DEFINED IN 9
374	374	18 U.S.C. § 2256(2)(A). 10
375	375
376	376	11–1706. 11
377	377
378	378	(A) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION, A PERSON MAY NOT BE 12
379	379	SECONDARILY LIABLE F OR A VIOLATION UNDER THIS SUBTITLE FOR 13
380	380	MANUFACTURING , IMPORTING, OFFERING TO THE PUBL IC, PROVIDING, OR 14
381	381	OTHERWISE DISTRIBUTI NG A PRODUCT OR SERV ICE UNLESS THE PRODU CT OR 15
382	382	SERVICE: 16
383	383
384	384	(1) IS PRIMARILY DESIGNED TO PRODUCE ONE OR MO RE 17
385	385	UNAUTHORIZED DIGITAL REPLICAS; 18
386	386
387	387	(2) HAS ONLY LIMITED COMM ERCIALLY SIGNIFICANT PURPOSE OR 19
388	388	USE OTHER THAN TO PR ODUCE AN UNAUTHORIZE D DIGITAL REPLICA ; OR 20
389	389
390	390	(3) IS MARKETED, ADVERTISED, OR OTHERWISE PROMOTE D BY THAT 21
391	391	PERSON OR ANOTHER AC TING IN CONCERT WITH THAT PERSON WITH THA T 22
392	392	PERSON’S KNOWLEDGE FOR USE IN PRODUCING AN UNAU THORIZED DIGITA L 23
393	393	REPLICA. 24
394	394
395	395	(B) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION , AN ONLINE SERVICE 25
396	396	MAY NOT BE HELD LIAB LE FOR A VIOLATION U NDER THIS SUBTITLE F OR REFERRING 26
397	397	OR LINKING A USER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED DIGI TAL REPLICA, OR BY CARRYING OUT 27
398	398	AN ACTIVITY DESCRIBE D IN SUBSECT ION (F) OF THIS SECTION , IF THE ONLINE 28
399	399	SERVICE REMOVES OR D ISABLES ACCESS TO TH E MATERIAL THAT IS C LAIMED TO BE 29
400	400	AN UNAUTHORIZED DIGI TAL REPLICA AS SOON AS IS TECHNICALLY AN D 30
401	401	PRACTICALLY FEASIBLE FOR THE ONLINE SERVI CE. 31
402	402
403	403	(C) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION, AN ONLINE SERVICE 32
404	404	MAY NOT BE HELD LIAB LE FOR A VIOLATION U NDER THIS SUBTITLE F OR STORING 33
405	405	THIRD–PARTY–PROVIDED MATERIAL TH AT RESIDES ON A SYST EM OR NETWORK 34 10 SENATE BILL 1025
406	406
407	407
408	408	CONTROLLED OR OPERAT ED BY OR FOR THE ONL INE SERVICE IF, AFTER RECEIVING 1
409	409	A NOTIFICATION TH AT SATISFIES SUBSECT ION (F) OF THIS SECTION , THE ONLINE 2
410	410	SERVICE: 3
411	411
412	412	(1) REMOVES OR DISABLES A CCESS TO ALL INSTANC ES OF THE 4
413	413	MATERIAL, OR AN ACTIVITY USING THE MATERIAL , THAT IS CLAIMED TO B E AN 5
414	414	UNAUTHORIZED DIGITAL REPLICA AS SOON AS I S TECHNICALLY AND PR ACTICALLY 6
415	415	FEASIBLE FOR THE ONL INE SERVICE; AND 7
416	416
417	417	(2) AFTER REMOVING OR DIS ABLING ACCESS , TAKES REASONABLE 8
418	418	STEPS TO PROMPTLY NO TIFY THE THIRD PARTY THAT PROVIDED THE MA TERIAL 9
419	419	THAT THE ONLINE SERV ICE HAS REMOVED OR D ISABLED ACCESS TO TH E MATERIAL. 10
420	420
421	421	(D) THE LIMITATIONS ON LIABIL ITY ESTABLISHED UNDE R THIS SECTION 11
422	422	APPLY TO AN ONLINE S ERVICE ONLY IF THE O NLINE SERVICE: 12
423	423
424	424	(1) HAS DESIGNATED AN AGE NT TO RECEIVE NOTIFI CATIONS UNDER 13
425	425	SUBSECTION (F) OF THIS SECTION; AND 14
426	426
427	427	(2) PROVIDES TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND MAKES AVAILABLE 15
428	428	THROUGH THE ONLINE S ERVICE, INCLUDING ON THE WEB SITE OF THE ONLINE 16
429	429	SERVICE IN A LOCATIO N ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, THE FOLLOWING 17
430	430	INFORMATION : 18
431	431
432	432	(I) THE NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER , AND E–MAIL 19
433	433	ADDRESS OF THE AGENT ; AND 20
434	434
435	435	(II) ANY OTHER CONTACT INFORMATI ON THAT THE SECRETARY 21
436	436	OF STATE DETERMINES APPR OPRIATE. 22
437	437
438	438	(E) THE SECRETARY OF STATE: 23
439	439
440	440	(1) SHALL MAINTAIN A CURR ENT DIRECTORY OF DES IGNATED 24
441	441	AGENTS FOR THE PURPO SES OF THIS SECTION ; 25
442	442
443	443	(2) SHALL MAKE THE DIRECT ORY DESCRIBED IN ITE M (1) OF THIS 26
444	444	SUBSECTION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR IN SPECTION, INCLUDING THROUGH 27
445	445	THE INTERNET; AND 28
446	446
447	447	(3) MAY REQUIRE PAYMENT O F A REASONABLE FEE B Y ONLINE 29
448	448	SERVICES TO COVER TH E COSTS OF MAINTAINI NG THE DIRECTORY EST ABLISHED 30
449	449	UNDER THIS SUBSECTIO N. 31
450	450	SENATE BILL 1025 11
451	451
452	452
453	453	(F) (1) A NOTIFICATION TO AN O NLINE SERVICE ALLEGI NG A VIOLATION 1
454	454	OF THE RIGHT DESCRIB ED IN § 11–1702 OF THIS SUBTITLE SHA LL BE A WRITTEN 2
455	455	COMMUNICATION PROVID ED TO THE DESIGNATED AGENT OF AN ONLINE S ERVICE 3
456	456	THAT INCLUDES : 4
457	457
458	458	(I) A PHYSICAL OR ELECTRON IC SIGNATURE OF THE RIGHT 5
459	459	HOLDER, A PERSON AUTHORIZED TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE RIGHT HOLDER , OR AN 6
460	460	ELIGIBLE PLAINTIFF U NDER § 11–1707(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE; 7
461	461
462	462	(II) IDENTIFICATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL WHOSE VOI CE OR 8
463	463	VISUAL LIKENESS IS B EING USED IN AN UNAU THORIZED DIGITAL REP LICA; 9
464	464
465	465	(III) IDENTIFICATION OF THE MATERIAL CONTAINING AN 10
466	466	UNAUTHORIZED DIGITAL REPLICA, INCLUDING INFORMATIO N SUFFICIENT TO 11
467	467	ALLOW THE ONLINE SER VICE TO LOCATE THE A LLEGEDLY UNAUTHORIZE D DIGITAL 12
468	468	REPLICA; 13
469	469
470	470	(IV) INFORMATION REASONABL Y SUFFICIENT TO ENAB LE THE 14
471	471	ONLINE SERVICE TO CO NTACT THE NOTIFYING PARTY, SUCH AS AN ADDRESS , 15
472	472	TELEPHONE NUMBER , AND E–MAIL ADDRESS ; 16
473	473
474	474	(V) IF THE NOTIFICATION I S NOT PROVIDED BY TH E RIGHT 17
475	475	HOLDER OR AN ELIGIBL E PLAINTIFF UNDER § 11–1707(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE , A 18
476	476	STATEMENT THAT THE NOTIFYING PARTY BELIEVES IN GOOD FAI TH THAT THE 19
477	477	MATERIAL IS AN UNAUT HORIZED USE OF A DIG ITAL REPLICA; AND 20
478	478
479	479	(VI) FOR PURPOSES OF SUBSE CTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , 21
480	480	INFORMATION SUFFICIE NT TO: 22
481	481
482	482	1. IDENTIFY THE REFERENC E OR LINK TO THE 23
483	483	MATERIAL OR ACTI VITY CLAIMED TO BE A N UNAUTHORIZED DIGIT AL REPLICA THAT 24
484	484	IS TO BE REMOVED OR TO WHICH ACCESS IS T O BE DISABLED; AND 25
485	485
486	486	2. ENABLE THE ONLINE SER VICE TO LOCATE THE 26
487	487	REFERENCE OR LINK DE SCRIBED IN ITEM 1 OF THIS ITEM. 27
488	488
489	489	(2) IN A NOTIFICATION TO A DESIGNATED AGENT UNDER PARAGRAP H 28
490	490	(1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A PERSON MAY NOT KNO WINGLY AND MATERIALL Y 29
491	491	MISREPRESENT THAT : 30
492	492
493	493	(I) THE MATERIAL REQUESTE D TO BE REMOVED IS A N 31
494	494	UNAUTHORIZED DIGITAL REPLICA; 32
495	495	12 SENATE BILL 1025
496	496
497	497
498	498	(II) A PERSON HAS THE AUTHO RITY TO ACT ON BEHAL F OF THE 1
499	499	RIGHT HOLDER; OR 2
500	500
501	501	(III) A DIGITAL REPLICA IS N OT AUTHORIZED BY THE RIGHT 3
502	502	HOLDER OR BY OTHER L AW. 4
503	503
504	504	(3) A PERSON THAT VIOLATES PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION 5
505	505	SHALL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE GREATER OF: 6
506	506
507	507	(I) $5,000; OR 7
508	508
509	509	(II) 1. ACTUAL DAMAGES , INCLUDING HARM TO AN ONLINE 8
510	510	SERVICE CAUSED BY TH E RELIANCE OF THE ON LINE SERVICE ON THE 9
511	511	MISREPRESENTATION IN REMOVING OR DISABLIN G ACCESS TO THE MATE RIAL OR 10
512	512	ACTIVITY CLAIMED TO BE AN UNAUTHORIZED D IGITAL REPLICA; AND 11
513	513
514	514	2. COSTS AND ATTORNEY ’S FEES. 12
515	515
516	516	11–1707. 13
517	517
518	518	(A) IN THIS SECTION , “VIOLATION” MEANS EACH DISPLAY , COPY MADE, 14
519	519	TRANSMISSION , AND INSTANCE OF THE UNAUTHORIZED DIGITAL REPLICA BEING 15
520	520	OTHERWISE MADE AVAIL ABLE ON AN ONLINE SE RVICE, UNLESS THE ONLINE 16
521	521	SERVICE HAS TAKEN RE ASONABLE STEPS TO REMOVE, OR DISABLE ACCESS TO , THE 17
522	522	UNAUTHORIZED DIGITAL REPLICA AS SOON AS I S TECHNICALLY AND PR ACTICALLY 18
523	523	FEASIBLE FOR THE ONL INE SERVICE AFTER AC QUIRING KNOWLEDGE IN 19
524	524	ACCORDANCE WITH § 11–1705(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 20
525	525
526	526	(B) AN ACTION FOR A VIOLA TION OF THIS SUBTITLE MAY BE BROU GHT BY: 21
527	527
528	528	(1) A RIGHT HOLDER ; 22
529	529
530	530	(2) IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS A MINOR, A PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF THE 23
531	531	INDIVIDUAL; 24
532	532
533	533	(3) ANY OTHER PERSON THAT OWNS OR CONTROLS THE RIGHT TO 25
534	534	AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE VOICE OR VISUAL LIKENESS OF A DECEAS ED 26
535	535	INDIVIDUAL; OR 27
536	536
537	537	(4) IN THE CASE OF A DIGI TAL REPLICA INVOLVIN G A SOUND 28
538	538	RECORDING ARTIST , A PERSON THAT HAS , DIRECTLY OR INDIRECT LY, ENTERED 29
539	539	INTO: 30
540	540	SENATE BILL 1025 13
541	541
542	542
543	543	(I) A CONTRACT FOR THE EXC LUSIVE PERSONAL SERV ICES OF 1
544	544	THE SOUND RECORDING ARTIST; OR 2
545	545
546	546	(II) AN EXCLUSIVE LICENSE TO DISTRIBUTE OR TRA NSMIT ONE 3
547	547	OR MORE WORKS THAT C APTURE THE AUDIO PER FORMANCE OF THE SOUN D 4
548	548	RECORDING ARTIST . 5
549	549
550	550	(C) AN ACTION MAY NOT BE BROUGHT UNDER THIS S ECTION UNLESS THE 6
551	551	ACTION IS COMMENCED NOT LATER THAN 3 YEARS AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH THE 7
552	552	PARTY SEEKING TO BRI NG THE ACTION DISCOV ERED, OR WITH DUE DILIGENC E 8
553	553	SHOULD HAVE DISCOVER ED, THE APPLICABLE VIOLA TION. 9
554	554
555	555	(D) IT IS NOT A DEFENSE I N AN ACTION BROUGHT UNDER THIS SECTION 10
556	556	THAT THE DEFENDANT D ISPLAYED OR OTHERWIS E COMMUNICATED TO TH E PUBLIC 11
557	557	A DISCLAIMER: 12
558	558
559	559	(1) STATING THAT THE APPL ICABLE DIGITAL REPLI CA WAS 13
560	560	UNAUTHORIZED ; OR 14
561	561
562	562	(2) DISCLOSING THAT THE D IGITAL REPLICA WAS G ENERATED 15
563	563	THROUGH THE USE OF A RTIFICIAL INTELLIGEN CE OR OTHER TECHNOLO GY. 16
564	564
565	565	(E) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (G) OF THIS SECTION, IN AN ACTION BROUGHT 17
566	566	UNDER THIS SECTION : 18
567	567
568	568	(1) AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENTI TY THAT ENGAGES IN A CTIVITY 19
569	569	DESCRIBED IN § 11–1705(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE SHA LL BE LIABLE TO THE INJURED 20
570	570	PARTY IN AN AMOUNT E QUAL TO THE GREATER OF: 21
571	571
572	572	(I) 1. IN THE CASE OF AN IND IVIDUAL, $5,000 PER WORK 22
573	573	EMBODYING THE APPLIC ABLE UNAUTHORIZED DI GITAL REPLICA; 23
574	574
575	575	2. IN THE CASE OF AN ENT ITY THAT IS AN ONLIN E 24
576	576	SERVICE, $5,000 PER VIOLATION; OR 25
577	577
578	578	3. IN THE CASE OF AN ENT ITY THAT IS NOT AN O NLINE 26
579	579	SERVICE, $25,000 PER WORK EMBODYING T HE APPLICABLE UNAUTH ORIZED 27
580	580	DIGITAL REPLICA ; OR 28
581	581
582	582	(II) ANY ACTUAL DAMAGES SU FFERED BY THE INJURE D PARTY 29
583	583	AS A RESULT OF THE A CTIVITY, PLUS ANY PROFITS FRO M THE UNAUTHORIZED U SE 30
584	584	THAT ARE ATTRIBUTABL E TO THE USE AND NOT TAKEN INTO ACCO UNT IN 31
585	585	COMPUTING THE ACTUAL DAMAGES; 32 14 SENATE BILL 1025
586	586
587	587
588	588
589	589	(2) THE PLAINTIFF MAY SEE K INJUNCTIVE OR OTHE R EQUITABLE 1
590	590	RELIEF; 2
591	591
592	592	(3) IN THE CASE OF WILLFU L ACTIVITY IN WHICH THE INJURED 3
593	593	PARTY HAS PROVEN THA T THE DEFENDANT ACTE D WITH MALICE , FRAUD, 4
594	594	KNOWLEDGE , OR RECKLESS DISREG ARD OF KNOWLEDGE THA T THE CONDUCT 5
595	595	VIOLATED THE LAW , THE COURT MAY AWARD TO THE INJURED PARTY PUNITIVE 6
596	596	DAMAGES; AND 7
597	597
598	598	(4) IF THE PREVAILING PAR TY IS: 8
599	599
600	600	(I) THE PARTY BRINGING TH E ACTION, THE COURT SHALL 9
601	601	AWARD REASONABLE ATT ORNEY’S FEES; OR 10
602	602
603	603	(II) THE PARTY DEFENDING THE A CTION, THE COURT SHALL 11
604	604	AWARD REASONABLE ATT ORNEY’S FEES IF THE COURT DETERMINES THAT THE 12
605	605	ACTION WAS NOT BROUG HT IN GOOD FAITH . 13
606	606
607	607	(F) IF AN ONLINE SERVICE HAS AN OBJECTIVELY R EASONABLE BELIEF 14
608	608	THAT MATERIAL THAT I S CLAIMED TO BE AN U NAUTHORIZED DIGITAL REPLI CA DOES 15
609	609	NOT QUALIFY AS A DIG ITAL REPLICA AS DEFI NED IN § 11–1701 OF THIS SUBTITLE , 16
610	610	THE ONLINE SERVICE M AY NOT BE HELD LIABL E FOR STATUTORY OR A CTUAL 17
611	611	DAMAGES EXCEEDING $1,000,000, REGARDLESS OF WHETHE R THE MATERIAL IS 18
612	612	ULTIMATELY DETERMIN ED TO BE AN UNAUTHOR IZED DIGITAL REPLICA . 19
613	613
614	614	(G) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , IF A THIRD 20
615	615	PARTY THAT PROVIDED THE MATERIAL THAT IS REMOVED BY THE ONLIN E SERVICE, 21
616	616	OR TO WHICH THE ONLI NE SERVICE HAS DISAB LED ACCESS, FILES A LAWSUIT 22
617	617	AGAINST THE SENDER OF A NOTI FICATION UNDER § 11–1706(F) OF THIS SUBTITLE 23
618	618	CLAIMING THAT THE NO TIFICATION WAS FALSE OR DECEPTIVE AS DESC RIBED IN § 24
619	619	11–1706(F)(2) OF THIS SUBTITLE , THE ONLINE SERVICE M AY RESTORE THE 25
620	620	REMOVED MATERIAL TO ITS NETWORK FOR ACCE SS BY MEMBER S OF THE PUBLIC 26
621	621	WITHOUT MONETARY LIA BILITY TO EITHER: 27
622	622
623	623	(I) THE NOTICE SENDER ; OR 28
624	624
625	625	(II) THE THIRD PARTY THAT PROVIDED THE MATERIA L THAT 29
626	626	THE ONLINE SERVICE H AD REMOVED OR DISABL ED ACCESS TO. 30
627	627
628	628	(2) AN ONLINE SERVICE MAY RESTORE THE REMOVED MATERIAL IN 31
629	629	ACCORDANCE WITH PARA GRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION O NLY IF A THIRD PARTY 32 SENATE BILL 1025 15
630	630
631	631
632	632	FILES THE LAWSUIT NO T LATER THAN 14 DAYS AFTER THE THIRD PARTY RECEIVES 1
633	633	NOTICE THAT THE ONLI NE SERVICE HAS REMOV ED THE MATERIAL . 2
634	634
635	635	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 3
636	636
637	637	(1) the right established under § 11–1702(a) of the Commercial Law 4
638	638	Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act, shall apply to an individual regardless of 5
639	639	whether an individual dies before or after the effective date of this Act; but 6
640	640
641	641	(2) Section 1 of this Act may not be applied or interpreted to establish 7
642	642	liability for conduct occurring, or a license or contract executed, before the effective date of 8
643	643	this Act. 9
644	644
645	645	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, if any provision of this Act or 10
646	646	the application of any provision of this Act to any person or circumstance is held invalid for 11
647	647	any reason in a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity does not affect other 12
648	648	provisions or any other application of this Act that can be given effect without the invalid 13
649	649	provision or application, and for this purpose the provisions of this Act are declared 14
650	650	severable. 15
651	651
652	652	SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 16
653	653	October 1, 2025. 17
654	654