Adam Yauch's will stipulates that his music and image can't be used in advertising
The late Adam “MCA” Yauch took pains to keep from becoming a tool of the man even in death. According to DNA Info, Yauch’s will—filed in Manhattan Surrogate Court earlier this week—states that “his image, music, and any art he created could not be used for advertising,” essentially keeping him from popping up in commercials and video games like the late Kurt Cobain.
The will also leaves his $6.4 million estate to his wife, Dechen Yauch, and their 13-year-old daughter, Losel. Dechen Yauch alone now has the right to sell and manage his artistic property—including Oscilloscope Laboratories, the film distribution company Yauch founded with David Fenkel.
The precautions Yauch took are definitely smart, especially considering that the Beastie Boys are currently fighting Monster Beverage Corp. in Manhattan federal court over allegedly using their songs without permission for a promotional video.