Section 93-19-17 - Student-athletes eighteen years of age or older competent to contract in matters affecting the use of their name, image or likeness while participating in intercollegiate sports(1) All persons eighteen (18) years of age or older, if not otherwise disqualified, or prohibited by law, shall have the capacity to enter into binding contractual relationships affecting the use of their publicity rights while participating in intercollegiate sports as student-athletes in accordance with the Mississippi Intercollegiate Athletics Compensation and Publicity Rights Act. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any contracts entered into prior to July 1, 2021.(2) In any legal action founded on a student-athlete publicity rights contract entered into by a person eighteen (18) years of age or older, the person may sue in his or her own name as an adult and be sued in his or her own name as an adult and be served with process as an adult.(3) For purposes of this section:(a) "Intercollegiate athletics program" means an intercollegiate athletics sport played at the collegiate level for which eligibility requirements for participation by a student-athlete are established by a national association , conference or any other group or organization with authority over the sport, that promotes or regulates collegiate athletics .(b) "Student-athlete" means an individual who is enrolled in or has signed a National Letter of Intent or other written agreement to enroll in a postsecondary educational institution or is being recruited by a postsecondary educational institution to participate in an intercollegiate athletics program. If an individual is permanently ineligible to participate in a particular intercollegiate sport, the individual is not a student-athlete for purposes of that sport.Amended by Laws, 2024, ch. 378, SB 2417,§ 27, eff. 4/18/2024.Added by Laws, 2021, ch. 444, SB 2313,§ 5, eff. 7/1/2021.