"Attorney Michelle May O'Neil said exactly that during a SXSW panel she hosted, 'Who Owns Me? Legal War Over Identity in the Creator Economy.' O'Neil is a nationally recognized lawyer and expert on NIL (name, image, likeness) topics, and she warned creators to take proactive steps to protect their identities, including prenuptial agreements."
"O'Neil highlighted the case of Kat and Mike Stickler, married influencers who ended up in a bitter custody feud, not over their children, but over their followers - all 4 million of them. In covering the case, the Wall Street Journal asked, 'Who Gets the TikTok in the Divorce?'"
Social media accounts have become valuable assets for content creators, requiring legal protection similar to traditional joint property. Attorney Michelle May O'Neil, an expert on name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights, advises creators to proactively safeguard their digital identities through prenuptial agreements. The case of influencers Kat and Mike Stickler demonstrates real-world consequences, as their divorce involved a custody battle over their 4 million TikTok followers. This emerging legal issue reflects how creator economy assets differ from traditional marital property, necessitating specialized contractual provisions to clarify ownership rights before relationship dissolution occurs.
Read at Mashable
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