Sailor Jerry Rum Maker Beats Claim by Tattoo Artist’s Heirs

A right-of-publicity claim brought by the heirs of Hawaiian tattoo artist Sailor Jerry against the maker of Sailor Jerry rum failed because the state’s law was passed decades after his death, a Hawaii federal court said.

Norman Keith Collins, better known as Sailor Jerry, died in 1973. His wife entered an oral agreement to sell the contents of his tattoo shop to artist Michael Malone, who Collins had mentored.

Malone asserted that the sale included Sailor Jerry’s intellectual property rights, but Collins’ wife said it only included the physical items in the shop.

Malone partnered with Ed Hardy to sell ...