New Jersey Assembly Bill A4635

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/25/24
• Refer: 6/25/24

Caption

Protects monetary rights and privacy of minor children featured in online video blogs.

Impact

If enacted, A4635 will amend existing laws regarding the rights of parents to a child's earnings by specifying that any profits made from featuring a minor child's likeness in online content must be stored in a trust until the child turns 18. This change will ensure that parents can no longer unilaterally claim earnings from their children's appearances in media, thus mandating a more equitable financial arrangement for child content creators. The bill also clarifies the conditions under which content creators are required to compensate their minors, such as when a significant percentage of video content features the child.

Summary

Assembly Bill A4635 is designed to protect the monetary rights and privacy of minor children featured in online video blogs. The legislation mandates that online content creators must ensure that any income generated from their video content that includes a minor child's likeness or name is placed into a trust for the benefit of the minor child. This ensures that children are compensated fairly for their likenesses and allows them to access these funds when they reach adulthood, thereby safeguarding their financial rights.

Contention

Controversially, there may be disagreements regarding the definitions and thresholds set within the bill, particularly around what constitutes fair use of a minor child's likeness in videos. Critics may argue that the criteria for triggering these compensation requirements may be inconsistent or burdensome for content creators. Additionally, the implications of trust fund management for minors and the responsibility of parents under this new regulation could lead to further debate on parental authority and children's rights within the digital content landscape.