Art Business Info. for Artists
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    • How to write an Artist's Statement >
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      • Why websites matter
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    • Trading Law & Regulations for Artists (UK)
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      • 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
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    • The Art Legacy >
      • Estate Planning for Artists
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      • Famous Artists Estates
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      • After the Death of an Artist
      • Copyright and Resale Rights after Death
      • Art and Inheritance Tax
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Copyright for Artists

Do you want to know how to protect your art on the Internet?
Or what to do if somebody steals your art?
Woe to you! You thieves and imitators of other people's labour and talents. Beware of laying your audacious hand on this artwork.
— Albrecht Durer 1511

Contents
​

This site provides a reference about copyright, trademarks and brands for artists. Specifically:
  • Copyright and artists' rights
  • BASICS of Copyright infringement and Fair Use - for artists - if referencing the artwork of others, what are you allowed to do without getting into trouble
  • How to protect artwork online - practical steps to prevent the risk of your artwork being stolen
  • How to do a reverse image search - If you want to find out whether somebody has created copies of your photos or artwork on the Internet
  • What to do about copyright infringement - for artists - if your artwork is stolen or plagiarised
  • Global Conventions on Copyright - see the links below for  information about what how copyright applies in different countries
  • A Guide to Photography in Public - what you can and cannot do [coming soon]
  • Pinterest, Copyright and Spam - for Visual Artists & Photographers  [coming soon] - for copyright infringements on Pinterest and what you can do to prevent and resolve this

Copyright law in different countries
​

Do you need an introduction to copyright for artists in a global marketplace where not all countries operate copyright law in exactly the same way?

Links to authoritative national websites, various bodies dealing with copyright matters and advice and information can be found below. These include advice on what what to do in your country if your copyright is infringed
  • Global Conventions on copyright e.g. Berne Convention
  • Copyright in the UK
  • Copyright in USA
  • Copyright and intellectual property in Canada
  • Copyright and intellectual property in Australia

In THE ART LEGACY section of  MONEY AND TAX you can find
  • Copyright and resale rights for heirs Copyright relating to original artwork is a valuable asset in an artist's estate. You can derive income from it for a specific period of time after the death of an artist.

What is copyright?
​

Copyright (or author’s right) is a legal term used to describe the rights that creators have over their literary and artistic works. 
- Definition of Copyright (World Intellectual Property Organisation)

Copyright is a legal right for people who create original work which allows them to protect their creative work for a specific period of time. However copyright cannot protect a concept, idea or fact. You can have an idea for a painting but you cannot copyright it until you produce it.

Copyright is a form of intellectual property. It's an an asset with a value:
  • Copyright can be licensed to third parties for the purposes of publication and reproduction - within the specific terms of the licence.
  • Copyright continues for a specific period of time after your death. This varies by country. It can be assigned to your heirs -after your death.

Copyright prevents other people exploiting your creation and making money from it. If people infringe your copyright you can bill them for your lost income.

trademark, copyright, intellectual property, protection, orphan artworks, design patent
Picture
List of different countries and the length of their standard copyright in years

Blogging about Copyright
​

These are blogs which post regularly about copyright matters
  • The 1709 Blog
    a blog dedicated to all things copyright, warts and all.
  • The Copyright Zone
    Not just copyright. A Survival Blog for Photographers, Artists and the Confused
  • Plagiarism Today
    RSS feed for Plagiarism Today - all the latest blog posts
  • Laurence Kaye on Digital Media Law
    This is a blog about the future of digital media law from Laurie Kaye, Laurence Kaye Solicitors.
  • You Thought We Wouldn't Notice... | but we did!
    Blog listing and calling out plagiarism Seems to have stopped posting

Note: I'm not a lawyer and you should not rely on any assertions I make as legal advice. I'm just an ordinary artist and writer who is trying to make sense of copyright in relation to visual art - and what artists can do if their copyright is infringed and/or others act in such a way as to create orphan works from their copyright protected artwork. These pages organises links to what seem to me to be relevant websites. If you need the help of a lawyer you should engage a professional.
Picture
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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Copyright: 2015-2021 Katherine Tyrrell | Making A Mark Publications
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If you've got any suggestions for what you'd like to see on this website please send me your suggestion
PLEASE NOTE:
1) Content and the law change all the time. It's impossible to keep up with it if you're not working on the topic full time. 
​2) I research topics carefully. However, I am totally unable to warrant that 
ANY and/or ALL information is 
  • complete and/or
  • professional and/or
  • wholly accurate and/or 
  • all links lead to the most current information (at the time of writing)​
​3) Hence all information I provide comes without any LIABILITY whatsoever to you for any choices you make. 
4) This website is FREE FOR YOU but not for me. ​Links to books are Amazon Affiliate links. Buying a book via this website means I get a very small payment which helps to fund and maintain this website. .I much appreciate any support your provide. Adverts are provided by Google AdSense - but the adverts do not mean I endorse the advertiser.
  • 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