Japan Supreme Court recognizes publicity rights (2012)
Japan's Supreme Court first recognized the right of publicity as a legally protected right. The case involved a photographer whose images of a celebrity were used in an unauthorized publication.
The court established a framework where celebrities could protect against unauthorized commercial use of their name and likeness.
Created the judge-made doctrine that subsequent voice protection builds upon, with the 2026 ruling extending the same reasoning to voice.
The 2026 ruling explicitly extends the 2012 Supreme Court precedent's reasoning from physical appearance to a person's voice.
