AI, Digital Replica & Identity Rights Policy

Effective Date: June 2025

Updated Date: July 25, 2026

William Shatner has spent decades building one of the world’s most recognizable public identities. He supports responsible innovation in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies while protecting his identity, voice, likeness, reputation, and legal rights from unauthorized use.

Advances in artificial intelligence (“AI”), machine learning, synthetic media, deepfake technology, voice cloning, and digital replica technologies now make it possible to create highly realistic depictions of identifiable individuals without their knowledge or consent. While these technologies offer legitimate creative and commercial applications, they also present significant legal and ethical concerns when used without authorization.

This policy establishes William Shatner’s position regarding the use of his identity in connection with AI-generated content, digital replicas, synthetic media, and similar technologies.

No Authorization

Except pursuant to a prior written agreement signed by William Shatner or his expressly authorized representative, no person or entity is authorized to create, generate, reproduce, modify, publish, display, distribute, perform, transmit, license, sell, advertise, promote, or otherwise exploit any content that depicts, recreates, imitates, simulates, or otherwise uses William Shatner’s identity through artificial intelligence or similar technologies.

This includes, without limitation:

  • AI-generated images or artwork
  • Deepfake videos
  • AI-generated motion pictures
  • Digital replicas
  • AI-generated voice cloning
  • Synthetic speech
  • AI-generated songs or musical performances
  • AI-generated interviews or conversations
  • AI-generated endorsements or testimonials
  • AI-generated social media content
  • Virtual avatars
  • Motion capture recreations
  • Holographic performances
  • Interactive AI chatbots or conversational agents representing William Shatner
  • Any simulation designed to cause viewers to believe William Shatner participated in, approved, endorsed, sponsored, authored, performed, or is otherwise affiliated with such content.

No implied license, consent, or authorization shall arise from William Shatner’s public profile, prior appearances, interviews, photographs, recordings, social media activity, or any prior failure to object to a particular use.

Only a written agreement expressly granting such rights shall constitute authorization.

Protection of Identity

William Shatner expressly reserves all legal rights relating to the commercial and non-commercial use of his identity, including, without limitation, his:

  • Name
  • Signature
  • Voice
  • Photograph
  • Image
  • Likeness
  • Persona
  • Distinctive appearance
  • Facial characteristics
  • Recognizable physical features
  • Audiovisual performances
  • Gestures and mannerisms
  • Biographical identity
  • Digital replica
  • Any simulation or recreation capable of causing a reasonable person to identify the depiction as William Shatner.

Unauthorized use of these identifying characteristics may violate applicable federal, state, local, and international laws relating to rights of publicity, privacy, copyright, trademark, unfair competition, false endorsement, consumer protection, contractual rights, and other applicable legal protections.

No Endorsement

Unless specifically announced through WilliamShatner.com, William Shatner’s verified official social media accounts, or an official press release issued on his behalf, no AI-generated or digitally created content should be interpreted as authentic, approved, sponsored, endorsed, licensed, or affiliated with William Shatner.

Any representation, implication, or suggestion that William Shatner participated in, created, approved, endorsed, authorized, narrated, performed, or sponsored AI-generated content without his express written permission is false.

AI Training, Data Collection & Machine Learning

Except as expressly authorized in writing, no person or entity may collect, scrape, download, reproduce, extract, copy, archive, index, or otherwise use any content appearing on WilliamShatner.com, including but not limited to:

  • Photographs
  • Videos
  • Audio recordings
  • Interviews
  • Written materials
  • Graphics
  • Logos
  • Metadata
  • Digital files
  • Any other media or content

for the purpose of:

  • training artificial intelligence models;
  • training or improving machine learning systems;
  • developing foundation models;
  • developing large language models;
  • creating digital replicas;
  • creating voice cloning technologies;
  • generating synthetic media;
  • building image generation systems;
  • developing datasets;
  • benchmarking AI systems; or
  • evaluating artificial intelligence technologies.

Access to WilliamShatner.com does not grant any license or permission for these activities.

Any rights not expressly granted are reserved.

Commercial Use

William Shatner’s identity has substantial commercial value developed through decades of professional work.

Accordingly, no person or entity may use William Shatner’s name, likeness, voice, image, digital replica, or other identifying characteristics to advertise, promote, market, endorse, sell, or otherwise commercially exploit any product, service, performance, recording, publication, website, social media account, NFT, cryptocurrency, software application, artificial intelligence system, or other commercial venture without prior written authorization.

Fan Creations

William Shatner sincerely appreciates the creativity, enthusiasm, and loyalty of his fans.

However, AI-generated content presents unique concerns because realistic synthetic media can easily create confusion regarding authenticity, endorsement, participation, or approval.

Accordingly, describing content as:

  • “Fan Art”
  • “Fan Fiction”
  • “Tribute”
  • “Parody”
  • “AI Generated”
  • “Unofficial”

does not necessarily eliminate legal obligations or authorize use of William Shatner’s identity.

Nothing contained in this policy is intended to discourage lawful commentary, criticism, news reporting, scholarship, research, satire, parody protected by law, or other expressive works afforded protection under applicable law. Each matter will be evaluated based upon its own facts and circumstances.

Official AI Projects

If William Shatner participates in, licenses, authorizes, or approves any artificial intelligence project, digital replica, voice model, or similar technology, such authorization will be publicly announced through one or more of the following official sources:

  • WilliamShatner.com
  • William Shatner’s verified official social media accounts
  • Official press releases issued on his behalf

Unless such an official announcement exists, any purported AI-generated depiction of William Shatner should be presumed not to be authorized.

Enforcement

William Shatner and his authorized representatives actively monitor the internet for unauthorized uses of his identity.

Where appropriate, William Shatner reserves the right to pursue any available remedy under applicable law, including, but not limited to:

  • Requests for removal under the policies of online platforms and service providers;
  • Privacy complaints;
  • AI-generated likeness complaints;
  • Digital replica complaints;
  • Right of publicity claims;
  • Copyright claims;
  • Trademark claims;
  • False endorsement claims;
  • Unfair competition claims;
  • Defamation claims where appropriate;
  • Cease-and-desist demands;
  • Injunctive relief;
  • Recovery of damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and all other remedies available under applicable law.

William Shatner further reserves the right to notify internet service providers, web hosts, search engines, social media platforms, domain registrars, payment processors, advertisers, licensing partners, and other third parties regarding unauthorized uses of his identity.

The decision not to pursue enforcement in any particular matter shall not constitute a waiver of any right or remedy and shall not prevent enforcement in any future matter.

Reporting Unauthorized Content

If you become aware of content that appears to unlawfully or misleadingly use William Shatner’s name, likeness, voice, image, digital replica, or other identifying characteristics, please notify us by email:

Webmaster@WilliamShatner.com

To assist us in evaluating your report, please include, if available:

  • A direct URL to the content;
  • The name of the platform or website;
  • Screenshots or screen recordings;
  • A brief description of the suspected unauthorized use.

Submission of a report does not create any obligation to investigate, respond, or initiate legal action. All reports will be reviewed and handled at our sole discretion.

Reservation of Rights

Nothing contained in this policy shall be construed as granting any license, permission, consent, waiver, assignment, or authorization to use William Shatner’s name, voice, likeness, image, persona, performances, digital replica, or any other identifying characteristics.

William Shatner expressly reserves all rights and remedies available under applicable federal, state, local, and international law, whether existing now or recognized in the future. These rights are cumulative and in addition to any other legal or equitable remedies.

This policy may be amended or updated at any time without prior notice to reflect changes in technology, business practices, or applicable law.