What is NIL? Understanding Name, Image, and Likeness Rules [Video]

NIL is a set of rules governing the right of college and high school athletes to benefit financially from the use of their name, image, or likeness for commercial purposes, such as product endorsements. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which formerly prohibited athletes from entering into such agreements, changed its rules in 2021. Many states now have NIL laws as well, covering both high school and college athletes.

NIL evolved from a legal concept known as the “right of publicity.” While the law varies from state to state, the right of publicity generally recognizes that individuals have the right to decide whether their name, photograph, or other likeness can be used by others for commercial purposes and to be compensated for such uses. Celebrity endorsements are the best-known examples, but the concept applies to everyday individuals, as well. A person’s right of publicity can even outlive them and be …