“Steven Tyler” Act passed by the Hawaii Senate
March 9, 2013 |
The Steve Tyler Act (really a bill) passed through the Hawaii Senate yesterday according to a report ‘Steven Tyler Act’ passed by Hawaii Senate for celebrity privacy.
I have posted on the bill here. It is now to be reviewed, debated and voted upon in the lower house.
It is a significant legislative response to provide persons (not just celebrities) with civil redress against unwanted and unreasonable intrusion into their privacy. Unfortunately it tends to be a piecemeal solution to a more significant problem. It is an advance on the state of Australian law where the likely remedy is nuisance or breach of confidence, not a particularly satisfactory response.
The article provides:
Hawaii Senator J. Kalani English recently sponsored the so-called “Steven Tyler Act” to help protect celebrity privacy by handing down civil violation on paparazzi’s who will take unwanted photos and videos of celebrities in their private time.
Steven Tyler has asked the Hawaii senator to file the bill after paparazzi’s took photos of him and his girlfriend in December and caused trouble and estrangement with the couple when it was published on a national magazine according to a report in Reuters. The Aerosmith front-man lives in his million dollar home in Maui during vacation, a district part of Sen. English jurisdiction. Twenty three of the 25 state legislative chamber members voted in favor of the proposal which will now be sent to the House for review. The act according to Sen. English can help boost tourism in Maui. Sen. Sam Slom, a Republican opposed the draft saying, “We have been the butt of many editorials and jokes across the country for this proposed legislation.” according to a post in Billboard. Slom is the only Republican in Hawaii’s 25 seat legislative chamber. Other celebrities like Mick Fleetwood, the Osbournes and Britney Spears supported the measure which they say paparazzi’s have prevented them to enjoy family time and simple home life. Media organizations like the Society of Professional Journalists and National Press Photographers Association have already questioned the proposal for it impedes and obstructs press freedom as noted in a news story from CBS.
