Art law is a distinctive field of law. After all, art fulfills a variety of purposes for corporations, governments, institutions, families, and artists, in addition to playing several roles in our culture.
Art can be a means of expression, a decorative element, a medium of exchange, and the foundation for numerous professions.
Art law frequently deals with issues including how to value works of art, safeguard intellectual property rights in art, free speech concerns, authenticate and handle stolen art, and several business-related concerns for the art world.
For calculating the tax implications of dealing in art as well as for testamentary purposes, art value is particularly crucial. It also applies to disputes over insurance claims and when art items are used as collateral for loans.
Of course, the value of the art can have significant effects on both the donor and the donee for taxes, insurance, and maintaining not-for-profit status when someone decides to gift all or a portion of their art collection to a museum or other nonprofit organization.
Copyright protection for diverse works and assessing whether a piece was produced freely or as a work for hire are two examples of intellectual property concerns in art. Whether or not a work has been plagiarized is frequently asked. The question of whether or not a piece of art can be removed from its original installation is another.
Art freedom concerns frequently center on whether a statement is offensive or artistic.
Sometimes questions of free speech also concern whether something is considered to be art or a violation of another legislation. For instance, is “tagging” or spray-painted graffiti considered a criminal offense or a protected form of artistic expression?
What Are the Defenses Against Unauthorized Use?
To give artists moral rights, the Visual Artists Rights Act was passed in 1990. It solely applies to pieces of visual art.
What Fundamental Rights Do I Have as a Creative Person?
Any copyrighted materials that you create are solely yours to duplicate and distribute. You may freely transfer your ownership or authorship rights to anybody you like.
Even though copyright is the best way to establish and safeguard your authorial rights, some state and federal laws protect works that are not copyrighted. These are designed to protect the reputations and standing of persons who create works of art.
What Constitutes a Visual Artwork?
A piece of fine art is considered to be a work of visual art if it is produced in quantities fewer than 200, is sequentially numbered, and is signed. A sculpture, print, painting, or sketch falls within this category. A sculpture may come in various cast, carved, or manufactured forms. A still photo taken solely for exhibition reasons is also included.
What Exactly Is a Copyright Violation?
It is known as copyright infringement when someone breaches the copyright holder’s exclusive rights. For instance, a play may only be performed publicly and for payment by the play’s copyright holder.
Someone could face infringement charges if they attempt to perform payment publicly. Another example is when copyrighted music is being sold illegally.
In addition to additional sanctions, such as civil litigation for lost revenues, the illegal content itself may also be seized. An extremely serious criminal infringement can occasionally result in federal sanctions.
The 1990 Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA) was passed to protect those who create visual art. It protects an artist’s right to claim ownership of a piece of work and to have their name taken off any version of the work that was altered without their permission. VARA provides further protection for the artist’s right to halt the destruction of their work.
In contrast to several state laws, the VARA does not limit its protection to “fine art” but calls for an artwork to be “of recognized stature” to be protected. VARA defines the term “visual art” fairly narrowly, and various types of graphic art, audiovisual and motion picture art, magazines, and electronic art are not included.
Different types of artwork may or may not be protected by laws in your state.
State Protective Actions
If your state has approved legislation to protect and preserve works of art, you may be better off pursuing protection for your piece under state law than under VARA. Generally speaking, state laws protect a greater variety of artistic genres.
For example, California and New York broadened their definitions of art to include visual works created in any medium, preserving a much wider range of art.
What Makes a Visual Work of Art?
If a piece of fine art is manufactured in less than 200 pieces, has a sequential number, and is signed, it is regarded as a work of visual art. This includes a sculpture, print, painting, or sketch.
A sculpture can take many different cast, carved, or fabricated forms. There is also a still image captured primarily for presentation purposes.
Why Are There Moral Rights?
The attributional and integrity rights are those. Only the artist may formally relinquish their rights.
The owner’s legal right to be acknowledged as the author of a work and the ban against having their name connected to any work they did not create are known as the right of attribution. An artist has the right to have their name removed from a work if it has been altered in any manner.
The right to honesty is what is meant by this.
Can a Mural or Other Piece of Art be Removed from a Building by the Owner?
In general, artists are free to alter or destroy their creations. A work that is not the owner’s may only be changed or destroyed with the artist’s permission.
However, if an artist creates a mural or another piece of art on a building that belongs to another person, there may be a conflict of interest.
How Can I React if Someone Violates My Artist Rights?
If you win a lawsuit against someone who violated your rights as an artist, you can be entitled to the following:
- Damages (any money you lost as a result of the infringement upon your rights)
- Punitive damages (money awarded if the person who violated your rights acted maliciously)
- Expert witness and legal costs
- Any additional measures the court considers necessary
What Forms of Art Are Not Generally Accepted as Visual Art?
The Visual Artists Rights Act does not apply to all art forms, and some do not qualify as works of visual art. These forms of art consist of the following:
- Posters, globes, maps, and charts
- Models, diagrams, and applied art
- A movie or other audiovisual production
- Magazines, journals, newspapers, and books
- Databases, online information services, and articles published online
- Materials for promotion, advertising, description, covering, or packaging
- Any creation done for pay
- Any additional work not covered by copyright
Contact a lawyer if you have any questions about what is considered art or not for legal purposes. An attorney can advise you of your rights and what the law says about a particular piece of art.
Should I Get Legal Advice on My Art Law Issue?
It can be challenging to comprehend art law. You can find out what your rights are with the assistance of an experienced copyright lawyer in your area. A copyright attorney can also represent you in court if a conflict emerges.
