Is it legal to sell naming rights to a historic landmark building?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Is it legal to sell naming rights to a historic landmark building?
The organization I work for owns a national historic landmark building, a historic theater that’s been around for a long time. We’ve considered selling the naming rights to the building, much in the same way stadiums throughout the country frequently do (i.e., the Staples Center, Minute Maid Park, 3Com Park, etc.). Plenty of places do it all the time. But I’m looking wondering if it’s legal and/or possible to sell naming rights to a building that’s been given National Historic Landmark status.
Asked on February 29, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Illinois
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
A building that is given National Historic Landmark status can have its name sold. The status as a historic landmark gives the structure other benefits such as benefits for repairs, improved property values and the like under the federal landmark status program.
The problem from a practical point in re-naming a federal landmark is that its new name may cause some sense of confusion with the public.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.