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Assembly committee advances SB 683 to speed court takedowns for unauthorized use of name or likeness
Summary
Sen. Dave Cortese’s SB 683 clarifies that plaintiffs seeking relief for unauthorized commercial use of name, voice or likeness may request injunctions and temporary restraining orders; the committee referred the measure to Appropriations after debate over how quickly courts and platforms can comply.
The committee passed SB 683, a bill by Sen. Dave Cortese to clarify remedies available to people whose name, voice, signature, photograph or likeness are used without consent, and to authorize expedited injunctions or temporary restraining orders in such cases.
Cortese told the panel the statute — authorizing relief for unauthorized commercial use of another’s persona — had not been updated in more than 40 years and should include the modern remedy of a rapid temporary restraining order to stop exploitation, especially in online and AI‑driven contexts. He said a court‑ordered temporary restraining order should be executable within two business days unless a judge orders otherwise.
Opponents raised concerns about prior restraint and speed of compliance. Carl London of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) urged shorter compliance periods, saying a two‑day window permits too much harm in the modern internet environment. Danny Kanda of the First Amendment Coalition said the bill as drafted risks prior restraints on protected speech because online publishers may lack sufficient time to respond before a court orders removal.
Cortese responded that judges retain discretion to order an immediate takedown when the facts warrant it and that the proposal merely clarifies remedies already available under existing law. The committee moved the bill to the Appropriations Committee; the clerk recorded the roll and the committee reported the bill out for further consideration.
Supporters and opponents agreed to continue discussions about the technical compliance timeline and how to protect news and other protected speech while enabling rapid relief in clear instances of commercial misuse of likeness.
