Do I own the copyright in a sketch I drew based on a photograph from a book?

Answer 1

no - until you do a copyright paper!!!

Answer 2

There are several questions here.

1. Who (if anyone) owns the copyright of the photograph? Book publishers may be able to help here or it may be listed somewhere in the book.
2. When you say you based your drawing on a photograph, what does that mean? Did you copy the photo slavishly, copy some elements of the photo, loosely base a sketch on something in the photo?
3. You don't have to register copyright anywhere. If you create something - you own the copyright to it. Proving you own the copyright is another matter.

Yours is a question which artists often have to ask, and it is better to have the answer before you publish your work. Otherwise you could be in big legal trouble with the copyright owner (Disney have been known to chase up artists that draw characters that look like Disney characters).

In respect of one of your other answers, Picaaso never owned the copyright to the Monalisa. It was painted by Da Vinci (he of the code) long before Picasso was born.

Other piece of useless information: The estate of Picasso sold the right to his signature to the Citroen Motor Company. They (Citroen) know have to chase anyone using the signature without permission.

Bottom line: If in doubt, don't publish

D.

Answer 3

No. There was a legal case some years ago where a photographer successfully sued someone for breach of copyright for doing exactly this. The case was heard in an American court but, if I remember rightly, it altered the international laws relating to copyright.

Answer 4

Actually, the law is pretty clear on this one.
You will never hold the copyright. Your drawing while it may be unique to you is still based on another piece of work. That being said, you are actually in violation of copyright laws by reproduction. Copyright violation is a summary conviction charge of $250,000 simply meaning unlike other laws you are considered guilty and need to prove otherwise.
Unless you plan to sell your work. I don't think you will ever be charged. Just remember, it isn't yours if it's based on something else.

Answer 5

No, you drew based on a photograph (means you copied the idea, the situation and some other things from the photograph). If I draw another Monalisa based on Picasso's, would I be the creator of Monalisa?

Answer 6

If my memory is correct, I think that art work changed by 10% is considered new and original art.
Hmmmm.

Answer 7

Not unless you have had it copyrighted