(A) As used in this section:

Terms Used In Ohio Code 3376.06

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59

(1) “Official team activities” means all games, practices, exhibitions, scrimmages, team appearances, team photograph sessions, sports camps sponsored by the institution or college, and other team-organized activities, regardless of whether the activity takes place on or off campus, including individual photograph sessions and news media interviews.

(2) “Student” means an individual enrolled at a state institution of higher education or private college who participates in intercollegiate athletics.

(B) A state institution of higher education’s or private college’s contract with a student shall not prevent the student from using the student’s name, image, or likeness for a commercial purpose when the student is not engaged in official team activities.

(C) A student shall not enter into a contract providing compensation to the student for use of the student’s name, image, or likeness that requires the student to display a sponsor’s product, or otherwise advertise for a sponsor, during official team activities or any other time if that requirement is in conflict with a provision of a contract to which a state institution of higher education or private college is a party.

(D)(1) A student who intends to enter into a verbal or written contract providing compensation to the student for use of the student’s name, image, or likeness shall disclose the proposed contract to an official of the state institution of higher education or private college for review by the institution or college. The institution or college shall designate an official to whom the student is to disclose the proposed contract.

(2) If a state institution of higher education or private college identifies a conflict between the proposed verbal or written contract described in division (D)(1) of this section and any existing provisions of a contract to which the institution or college is a party, the institution or college shall communicate to the student the relevant contract provision that is in conflict. The student shall not enter into the proposed contract, but the student may negotiate a revision to the proposed contract to avoid the conflict. The revised proposed contract is subject to review by the institution or college to ensure compliance with this chapter.

(E) A state institution of higher education or private college may establish reasonable policies or standards to address a student’s failure to provide the disclosure required under division (D)(1) of this section or any other failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter.

Last updated September 15, 2021 at 5:19 PM