Art Business Info. for Artists
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    • How to write an Artist's Statement >
      • What is an Artist Statement?
      • Why you need an Artist's Statement
      • TIPS How to write an artist statement
      • The Language of an Artist's Statement
      • What an artist statement should contain
      • Examples of Artists Statements
    • How to write an Artist's Resume or CV >
      • Social Media summaries
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      • Why websites matter
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    • A Guide to Art Dealers & Galleries >
      • How to find the right gallery
    • The Artist-run Gallery
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    • List of Recommended Picture Framers
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  • SHIP ART
    • How to pack artwork >
      • How to pack and ship pastel paintings
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      • Rules of Origin
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    • How to ship art to exhibitions
    • How to mail art - Post & Parcel Services
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  • COPYRIGHT
    • Copyright and artists' rights
    • BASICS: Copyright Infringement and Fair Use
    • How to protect artwork online
    • How to do a reverse image search
    • What to do about copyright infringement - for artists
    • Global Conventions on copyright >
      • Copyright in the UK
      • Copyright in the USA
      • Copyright in Canada
      • Copyright in Australia
  • MONEY & TAX
    • How to work out profit from an art sale
    • How to Price Your Art >
      • How important is price when buying art?
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      • Art Experts on Pricing Art
      • How artists price their art
      • The price of affordable art
    • Payments to Artists >
      • Paying Artists
      • How to create an Invoice
    • VAT for Artists
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      • Tax on prize money
      • UK Tax Tips for Artists
      • UK: Self-Assessment Video Tips
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​Copyright in the UK

A brief summary of copyright law in the UK

The Statute of Anne (1710) was the first law on copyright in the UK. In recent times, its continued influence on regulations in the early 21st century have been addressed.

The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 is the main statute that governs copyright law in the UK. 

On 1 June 2014, this was amended by the following regulations
  • the Copyright and Rights in Performances (Disability) Regulations 2014
  • the Copyright and Rights in Performances (Research, Education, Libraries and Archives) Regulations 2014
  • the Copyright (Public Administration) Regulations 2014

Guidance on further changes implemented on 1 October 2014 has been created by the Intellectual Property Office and can be found at: 
  • Changes to design and patent law and
  • Changes to copyright law.

These include a new exception to copyright for parody caricature, pastiche and improvements to rules on how you can use quotations was implemented. This allows the limited use of copyright material without the permission of the copyright holder, but only to the extent that the use is fair and proportionate.

The changes allow much more freedom in copyright law for third parties to use copyright works for a variety of economically and/or socially valuable purposes, without the need to seek permission from copyright owners. At the same time, the changes are also supposed to protect the interests of copyright owners.

An unofficial consolidation of the Act and recent changes can be found in an illustrative revised draft of the law deposited in the libraries of the Houses of Parliament. See  illustrative draft of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (PDF, 2.94MB, 319 pages)

Copyright exemptions

Official Guidance

Exemptions to copyright protection relate to the following categories
  1. Non-commercial research and private study
  2. Text and data mining for non-commercial research
  3. Criticism, review and reporting current events
  4. Teaching
  5. Helping disabled people
  6. Time-shifting
  7. Personal copying for private use
  8. Parody, caricature and pastiche
  9. Certain permitted uses of orphan works
  10. Sufficient acknowledgment
  11. Fair dealing
  12. Technological protection measures

This is a useful official publication 
  • Exceptions to copyright: guidance for creators and copyright owners which is available as a pdf download.

Back to COPYRIGHT menu


Official website: UK Intellectual Property Office

Copyright advice from the UK government via the UK Intellectual Property Office

Scope of copyright
  • What is Intellectual Property?  Intellectual property (IP) can allow you to own things you create in a similar way to owning physical property. You can control the use of your IP, and use it to gain reward.
  • Copyright - Copyright applies to Art 
  • Copyright applies to artistic works including photographs - Copyright applies to original artistic works such as paintings, drawings, engravings, sculptures, photographs, diagrams, maps, works of architecture and works of artistic craftsmanship.
  • Intellectual Property Office - Copyright applies to... - Copyright applies to many things (each of these has a link which explains more on the website)Original works: Most works must be original to have copyright protection.Websites and the internet: The same rules apply on the internet as with other media

Copyright registers and registration
  • Intellectual Property Office - Automatic right - There is no official registration system for copyright in the United Kingdom (UK) and most other parts of the world. There are no forms to fill in and no fees to pay to get copyright protection.So long as you have created and fixed, for example in wr
  • Intellectual Property Office - Copyright registers - There is no official copyright register because copyright is automatic. There are certain steps you can take to protect your rights, but you do not have to register anywhere.

How long copyright lasts
  • How long copyright lasts - The length of time a copyright work is protected will depend upon the category or type of work and is usually calculated from the death of the creator.
  • How long copyright lasts - Frequently asked questions - How long does copyright last?* Is there any protection after copyright expires?* What is extended and revived copyright?* How long does copyright last in unpublished works such as manuscripts?

Ownership and Orphan works
  • Intellectual Property Office - Ownership of copyright works - Ownership of copyright works - each of these is explained in more detail on the websiteCreator and first owner: The creator of an original copyright work is usually the first owner.Works created for an employer: The same rule does not apply for works
  • Find out if you need a licence to copy a creative work - If you don’t know who the owner is you might need an ‘orphan works licence’ to copy the work. 

Intellectual Property Office: RSS Feed


Copyright in Plain English
​

WARNING - NONE of the non-official sites which provide basic guidance on copyright appear to have been updated for the recent changes
  • Wikipedia - Copyright law of the United Kingdom has NOT been updated for the recent changes in UK regulations.
  • P-01: UK Copyright Law fact sheetThe UK Copyright Laws fact sheet outlines the legislation covering copyright in the United Kingdom ( as it was) and the work to which it applies.
  • BBC - GCSE Bitesize: Copyright law A secondary school revision resource for GCSE ICT which looks at the issuse of theft, copyright laws and piracy.

  • Artists Resale Right
  • ​

The Artist’s Resale Right (ARR) entitles creators (‘authors’) of original works of art (including paintings, engravings, sculpture and ceramics) to a royalty each time one of their works is resold through an auction house or art market professional. The right to this royalty lasts for the same period as copyright, so since January 2012 ARR has applied to qualifying works by artists who have been dead for less than 70 years.

Official Guidance
  • Artist's Resale Right | Intellectual Property Office

Copyright Societies
​

Two organisations were set up in the UK in 2006 to help administer the royalties associated with the recently introduced Artists' Resale Right. In general I have to say I'm much more impressed by the DACs website when compared to the ACS website - but I can't comment on the services they offer.

The Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS) 


DACS is a not-for-profit visual arts rights management organisation. DACS campaigns for the rights of visual artists and pays them royalties that help sustain their practice and livelihood.
  • DACS Services For Artists & Representatives | Get the copyright revenues you deserve. - DACS distributes Payback royalties, and represents artists for copyright licensing, artists resale right and collective licensing distribution.
  • DACS Services For Beneficiaries & Heirs - Protecting the rights of artists and paying them the royalties that help sustain their practice and livelihood.
  • DACS Services for For Art Market Professionals - Protecting the rights of artists and paying them the royalties that help sustain their practice and livelihood.
  • DACS | Licensing Works - Protecting the rights of artists and paying them the royalties that help sustain their practice and livelihood.
  • DACS - Artimage - DACS runs Artimage, a new digital image resource exclusively curated to showcase and license exceptional works of modern and contemporary art.

The Artists Collecting Society (ACS)


The Artists' Collecting Society (ACS) was set up in 2006 as a not-for-profit company dedicated to the administration of the Artist's Resale Right. It's a one-stop-shop for rights licensing and copyright and ARR management.
  • ACS - Artists' Collecting Society: Artists FAQs - the basics of what ACS can do for the artist

Copyright: Other relevant organisations
​

  • The British Copyright Council was founded in 1965 to protect and promote the principles of copyright in the UK. It is primarily a consultative body and liaison committee and does not operate a copyright advice service.
  • EUR-Lex provides direct free access to European Union law. eg EUR-Lex - 32001L0029 - EN - Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society
  • Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) : Copyright Information CLA provides a basic introduction to UK copyright

GO TO HOME

​GO TO COPYRIGHT
  • Copyright and artists' rights
  • Copyright infringement and fair use - for artists 
  • How to protect artwork online
  • How to do a reverse image search 
  • What to do about copyright infringement - for artists 
  • Global Conventions on Copyright
ABOUT ART BUSINESS INFO. FOR ARTISTS
This website aims to provide a compendium of resources about the art business for artists. Please read "PLEASE NOTE"

It helps artists learn how to do better at being business-like, marketing and selling their art and looking after their financial security.
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  • Home
    • Art Business Information Index
  • NEWS
  • PRACTICE
    • Starting Out - Tips
    • Being a Professional artist >
      • Working Lives of Professional Artists
      • Artists' Side Hustles
      • Artists' Residencies
      • Artists Unions
    • Best Art Business Books
    • Learning Opportunities >
      • Art Schools in the UK
      • Art Business Courses
    • Image Management for Artists >
      • How to photograph art
      • How To Scan Artwork
      • How to back up image files
    • Law for Artists >
      • Legal Matters
      • Data Protection for Art and Artists
      • Brexit Guidance for Art and Artists
    • Business Management for Artists >
      • Risk Management for Artists
      • How to spot Art Scams / Fraud
      • Life in an Art Market Recession
      • Coronavirus COVID-19 and Art
  • MARKETING
    • How to write an Artist's Statement >
      • What is an Artist Statement?
      • Why you need an Artist's Statement
      • TIPS How to write an artist statement
      • The Language of an Artist's Statement
      • What an artist statement should contain
      • Examples of Artists Statements
    • How to write an Artist's Resume or CV >
      • Social Media summaries
      • CV for Artists
      • Resume for Artists
      • Biography for Artists
    • How to sign a painting, drawing or fine art print
    • Business Cards for Artists
    • How to write a press release for an artist
    • The Private View Invitation
    • Publicity for Juried Exhibitions
    • Websites for Artists >
      • Why websites matter
      • Options for Websites
      • Web content for Artists
      • Web design for artists
      • Keeping Google Happy
      • Writing for the Web
    • Image & Video sizes for Social Media Sites
    • How to be mobile-friendly
  • SELL ART
    • Trading Law & Regulations for Artists (UK)
    • E-commerce for artists
    • Art Exhibitions & Competitions >
      • Juried Exhibitions & Art Competitions
      • Juried Art Exhibition Checklist for Artists
      • How to cost a juried exhibition entry
      • How to make labels for an art exhibition
    • A Guide to Art Agents and Consultants
    • A Guide to Art Dealers & Galleries >
      • How to find the right gallery
    • The Artist-run Gallery
    • The Vanity Gallery
    • Art Fairs
    • Alternative Options for Exhibitions
    • How to Sell Art from Home
    • Open Studios
  • FRAME ART
    • List of Recommended Picture Framers
    • Conservation Products
    • Framing for open exhibitions and art competitions
    • Framing Videos
    • How to hang a picture
  • SHIP ART
    • How to pack artwork >
      • How to pack and ship pastel paintings
    • Packaging materials
    • How to ship art internationally >
      • Rules of Origin
      • Export Licences for Cultural Goods
    • How to ship art to exhibitions
    • How to mail art - Post & Parcel Services
    • UK & Ireland: Art Transport Services
    • USA Art Transport Services
  • COPYRIGHT
    • Copyright and artists' rights
    • BASICS: Copyright Infringement and Fair Use
    • How to protect artwork online
    • How to do a reverse image search
    • What to do about copyright infringement - for artists
    • Global Conventions on copyright >
      • Copyright in the UK
      • Copyright in the USA
      • Copyright in Canada
      • Copyright in Australia
  • MONEY & TAX
    • How to work out profit from an art sale
    • How to Price Your Art >
      • How important is price when buying art?
      • Options for Pricing Art
      • Terminology and Formulas for Pricing Art
      • Art Experts on Pricing Art
      • How artists price their art
      • The price of affordable art
    • Payments to Artists >
      • Paying Artists
      • How to create an Invoice
    • VAT for Artists
    • Tax Tips for Artists >
      • Tax on prize money
      • UK Tax Tips for Artists
      • UK: Self-Assessment Video Tips
      • USA Tax Tips for Artists
      • Ireland: Tax for Artists
      • Australia: Tax Tips for Artists
    • Insurance for Art and Artists >
      • Insurance for Art Teachers
      • UK Insurance Policies for art and artists
      • USA & Canada: Insurance Policies for Art and Artists
    • Artists' Grants & Scholarships
    • Retirement and Pensions for Artists
    • The Art Legacy >
      • Estate Planning for Artists
      • Estate Planning for Art Collectors
      • Famous Artists Estates
      • Artwork Inventory
      • After the Death of an Artist
      • Copyright and Resale Rights after Death
      • Art and Inheritance Tax
  • About + Help
    • Would you like me to help?
    • Privacy & Cookies Policy
    • Contact