Marketing Rosa Parks

According to the New York Times, licensing experts estimate the value of selling Rosa Parks' image at over six figures annually -- meaning that the holder of such licensing rates could potentially earn millions.  The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development, charged with the responsibility for safeguarding Ms. Parks' image, lacks the resources to prevent unauthorized uses, and so it has hired CMG Worldwide, which handles licensing rights for many deceased celebrities, to handle the rights for the use of Ms. Parks' image as well.  CMG should help prevent unauthorized uses of Ms. Parks image, while steering the proceeds from the authorized u e of her image to the appropriate institution.  (Image: National Archives)

But 12 of Ms. Parks' 13 surviving nieces and nephews don't see things that way, and they are challenging in probate court Ms. Parks' will that leaves them out of decision-making processes relating to, among other things, the licensing of her image.

For those who teach the King v. Boston University case, the Times article also includes some information about the disposition of MLK's papers.

[Jeremy Telman]