Robin Williams‘ family may be fighting over his personal property, but one thing they have no claim to are his rights of publicity.
The late comedian left his rights to his name, signature, photograph and likeness to the Windfall Foundation, a charitable organization set up by his lawyers, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The move restricts the authorized use of Williams’ image for 25 years following his death, meaning that you won’t see the “Mrs. Doubtfire” star’s visage used in a commercial, film or as a digital hologram until at least Aug. 11, 2039.
In case the IRS deems the Windfall Foundation ineligible for charitable deduction, Williams’ publicity rights would be distributed to established charitable organizations with a similar purpose.
Sources told the magazine that the move was made by Williams in response to an ongoing battle between Michael Jackson’s estate and the IRS over how to tax the late singer’s publicity rights. (The federal government claims Jackson’s estate owes more than half a billion dollars in taxes, plus over $200 million in penalties.)
As The Hollywood Reporter points out, assigning the rights to the Windfall Foundation controls how his image can be used while also limiting his family’s tax liability.
Williams took his life at his home outside San Francisco last August. His wife, Susan Williams, said the comedian had been struggling with depression, anxiety and a recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.