Let’s assume I’m a convicted criminal who committed serious crimes and got a lot of press attention
Does a judge have to make some it explicit during sentencing that I can’t sell my story to Hollywood? Or is the legal concept that the criminal can’t profit by selling his story outlawed in most places by statute?
Can I sell my fame associated with some bogus product? I’m thinking of John Gacey, who painted crappy pictures that I hear sell for pretty good prices – but I don’t know that he actually got any of that money, or would have been allowed to? If I did this would a court consider it profiting from my crime?
Can I sell a fictionally story that bears resemblance to the crime?
Can I sell my story after my prison term is complete? Now I’m thinking about Jack Abramoff, who’s on a book tour and his book apparently details the very kinds of activities that he was convicted of.
What if someone wants to publish my story? Can I “sell” it but designate that my proceeds go to another person (spouse or children maybe) or some charitable institution?
Reading the wikipedia article, I have trouble imagining how anyone, even someone making a plea deal, can sign away the right of another family member (not charged nor convicted) to sell their story. Nor can I imagine a case where some victim could sue over a crime against an innocent family member of the accused… any more than a victim could sue one of the witnesses - who also would have a story to sell/tell. The only exception might(?) be a spouse of the criminal sharing the family debt; but if the payout arrives after the divorce, and the divorce is before the judgement, then what?
It appears that one of my ancestors had a jail record. I would think it absurd if I would not be allowed to (somehow) make money off of it and not have it seized. Since the crimes were pretty mundane I doubt anyone would actually pay to hear about them or pay for artifacts, so the question seems kinda moot.
