Biopics, true crime, and the myth of “life rights.”

Biopics, true crime stories, and documentaries raise a question that is only seemingly simple: Is the consent of the subject required? Under Italian law, there is no actual right of ownership over one’s own biography. Protection, instead, is provided through rights related to one’s image, reputation, privacy, personal identity, and the proper handling of sources. This Insight analyzes the role of “life rights” and the main legal risks for producers, authors, and platforms.