Experience Hendrix LLC v. James Marshall Hendrix Foundation

MEMORANDUM *

Experience Hendrix, LLC and Authentic Hendrix, LLC (collectively, “Experience”) claim they own the exclusive rights to publicize Jimi Hendrix’s personality under the Washington Personality Rights Act (‘WPRA”), Wash. Rev.Code § 63.60.030. Applying Washington conflict of law rules, we first determine there is an actual conflict between Washington and New York law because the WPRA recognizes a posthumous right of personality, while New York did not recognize such a right at the time of Jimi Hendrix’s death in 1970. See Stephano v. News Group Publ’ns, Inc., 64 N.Y.2d 174, 183 , 485 N.Y.S.2d 220 , 474 N.E.2d 580 (N.Y.1984); Gurnee v. Aetna Life and Cas. Co., 55 N.Y.2d 184, 191-92 , 448 N.Y.S.2d 145 , 433 N.E.2d 128 (N.Y.1982).

Since an actual conflict exists, Washington choice of law rules direct us to determine which jurisdiction has the “most significant relationship” to a given issue, looking at the factors listed in Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 6 (1971). See Seizer v. Sessions, 132 Wash.2d 642, 649 , 940 P.2d 261 (1997). The WPRA does not contain a statutory directive to apply Washington law to this case because it does not include a choice of law…