The Original Prop Blog is more confused than ever with the ever evolving and changing law in California pertaining to the sale and purchase of autographed memorabilia. Governor Jerry Brown signed new changes into law in October, and rather than starting over with a new law that makes sense, they continue to tinker with the existing one which is just a terribly written (though well-intended) piece of legislation. Honestly, it’s gotten to the point where reading these bills and referencing back to the previous laws that the new fixes are supposed to… fix… just continue to make things more and more confusing. Confusing isn’t a strong enough word. Confounding?
In any event, the people lobbying (and suing) on behalf of booksellers appear to be (relatively) happy with the latest “fix” (the squeaky wheel). I assume most everyone else buying and selling autographs in and from California are probably completely unaware of these laws and fixes that impact their respective collecting and businesses. Because really, how can they even know that these laws have been enacted?
If you want to try to make sense of it, you can read AB-228 here: LINK
Per the Los Angeles Times, Governor Jerry Brown signed off on the latest on October 12th: LINK
All related articles on the Original Prop Blog can be found here: LINK
- July 11, 2017: “California Assembly & Senate Continue To Confuse Marketplace with New Legislative “Fixes” to Autograph Law”
- January 1, 2017: “The 10th Annual Original Prop Blog “Year in Review” for 2016: News, Developments, and Trends in Collecting Original TV & Movie Props, Costumes and Pop Culture Memorabilia”
- October 15, 2016: “Los Angeles Times Article Picks Apart New Autograph Anti-Fraud Legislation (California Assembly Bill AB 1570)”
- October 3, 2016: “Autograph Anti-Fraud Legislation (California Assembly Bill AB 1570) Now Law”
- January 29, 2016: “Mark Hamill & Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang Working on Autograph Anti-Fraud Legislation (California Assembly Bill AB 1570)”
Jason DeBord