2025年10月中旬，關於好萊塢傳奇女星奧黛麗·赫本（Audrey Hepburn）的肖像權糾紛在中國蘇州正式落下帷幕。赫本的長子——肖恩·赫本·費雷爾（Sean Hepburn Ferrer）狀告蘇州一家以赫本形象作為宣傳主題的餐廳，指控其在未經授權的情況下，使用赫本的姓名與肖像進行商業宣傳。最終，蘇州法院判決赫本之子勝訴，該餐廳被裁定侵犯赫本的肖像權及姓名權，需賠償人民幣20萬元並公開道歉。

這起案件的焦點在於：已故名人的肖像權是否可以由其親屬繼承。法院經審理後認為，肖像權屬於人格權的一種延伸，其名譽與影響可在合理範圍內由繼承人依法維護。赫本雖於1993年去世，但其形象仍具備極高商業價值與文化象徵意義。餐廳方在未取得肖恩及赫本基金會同意的情況下，使用赫本的經典形象（例如《蒂凡尼的早餐》中身穿黑裙、戴珍珠項鍊的標誌造型），並在門口與菜單上印有「奧黛麗·赫本主題餐廳」字樣，被認定屬於惡意蹭名人熱度、誤導消費者的行為。

赫本之子肖恩在得知判決結果後接受外媒採訪時表示，他感到欣慰，因為這不僅是為母親爭取尊重，也是對「名人遺產保護」的司法肯定。他幽默地說：「或許這家餐廳的食物並不好吃，所以他們才想靠我母親的名氣吸引顧客。」這句話引發社群媒體熱議，許多網友讚賞他以幽默化解憤怒，同時維護了赫本一貫的優雅形象。

赫本以其優雅氣質與慈善精神被譽為20世紀最具影響力的女性之一。她在電影、時尚與人道主義領域的地位使其形象長久以來被廣泛使用，但未經授權的商業利用屢見不鮮。此次蘇州法院的判決被視為中國在保護已故名人肖像權與人格權方面的一個重要案例，明確了「名人逝世後，其肖像與姓名的合法使用權可由直系親屬繼承並依法維護」的司法原則。

這起案件不僅關乎一位傳奇影星的尊嚴，也反映出中國社會對「名人文化與商業倫理」的重新審視。隨著越來越多國際知名人物的形象在中國市場被濫用，此案的判決有望成為未來同類糾紛的重要參考，強化公眾對於知識產權與人格尊重的法律意識。

In mid-October 2025, a high-profile lawsuit involving the legacy of Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn reached its conclusion in Suzhou, China. Hepburn’s eldest son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, filed a lawsuit against a local restaurant for using his late mother’s name and likeness for commercial promotion without authorization. After several hearings, the Suzhou court ruled in Sean’s favor, ordering the restaurant to pay 200,000 yuan (approximately USD 27,000) in damages and to issue a public apology.

The case centered on a key legal question: Can the image rights of a deceased celebrity be inherited by their family? The court affirmed that the right of likeness, as an extension of personality rights, can be lawfully protected by a celebrity’s legal heirs after their death. Although Audrey Hepburn passed away in 1993, her image continues to carry immense cultural and commercial value. The restaurant, which styled itself as an “Audrey Hepburn-themed café,” had used her famous portrait — including the iconic black dress and pearl necklace look from Breakfast at Tiffany’s — on its signage, menus, and advertisements without seeking permission from Hepburn’s family or the official Audrey Hepburn Foundation.

The court found that the restaurant’s actions constituted unauthorized commercial exploitation and misleading publicity, taking advantage of Hepburn’s fame to attract customers. The ruling emphasized that even after death, a celebrity’s image deserves respect and legal protection from misuse.

After the verdict, Sean Hepburn Ferrer expressed satisfaction with the outcome, saying it was not only a victory for his mother’s legacy but also an affirmation of the broader principle of protecting celebrity heritage rights.

Audrey Hepburn remains one of the most beloved and influential figures of the 20th century, admired for her elegance, humanitarian work, and timeless film performances. However, her image has often been exploited for commercial gain around the world. The Suzhou ruling is seen as a landmark case in China’s protection of posthumous image rights, setting a precedent that a celebrity’s name and likeness may be inherited and legally defended by their direct relatives.

Beyond the courtroom, the case also sparked broader discussion in China about celebrity culture, intellectual property, and business ethics. As the unauthorized use of international icons becomes increasingly common in Chinese marketing, this decision may serve as an important warning to businesses—and a sign that respect for personality rights is gaining stronger legal footing in China’s evolving judicial landscape.