When do I own the copyright of a painting?

Question

Is it by agreement with the artist when I buy it? Or do I automatically buy the copyright of that work when I buy a painting? It is English law I am interested in.

Tommy B - If you are asking me if I am real I can assure you on that point but I do want to know the real answer and not a guess and I am none to sure that you speak from any strength in the subject

Alison B - Hullo there. I like the answer but to check it out are you saying that no one owns the copyright to the Mona Lisa?

Shirley B: Very helpful and I have been looking around the internet and found a site which seems to be quasi government and it agrees with you except it says - copyright exists for 70 years after death.

Answer 1

the copyright remains with the artist their heirs and successors for 100 years unless a different agreement is made at the time of purchase or subsequently. The purchaser only owns the actual work. They have no right to reproduce or profit from the work in any way.

Answer 2

Usually when a painting is sold it is sold with the copyright unless stated,then any reproduction rights would fall to the artist,,if you buy a picture and copy it electronically, for example, you would not be breaking any copyright laws as you would be the sole owner of the work
source,,sell paintings internationally
Obviously you are getting some conflicting answers,,,it works like this,,just supposing I want to sell a piece of work and it is with the coptright as I am not bothered about the reproduction of it in any way in the future,,I sell it to a customer who owns the picture outright, (not uncommon) it would sell for £1.000 (as a round figure) if I sell it without the copyright so that I still own the rights to reproduce it ,it would sell for only about £500,,if it was a commission I would sell it for £1,500 with copyright ownership going to the new owner,,,I have sold into 12 countries my own work via galleries and all with the copyright going to the new owner,,
A manuscript or painting has a copyright ownership to the artist not exceding 100 years unless renewed by the family,,it can then be reproduced without copyright infringment,,ie the works of Shakespear can be done by anyone as nobody owns the copyright to his works anymore,,,
Copyright on pictures only usually is applied if the work is for reproduction purposes ie christmas cards, posters etc,,,that`s how it works in the UK,,
Single one off works of art sold in UK galleries are 90% sold with the copyright ownership transfering to the puchaser,,,,been there done it and doing it...
A very good friend of mine is doing a commission for a book cover,,it is a photographic work bu he will sell the finished work without copyright ownership going to the publisher or author as it will be reroduced many hundreds of times and he will get a credit and a very small commission on each print run,,but as for a painting that will just hang in someones front room it will be sold with copyright,,,,it all really depends on the reason for buying it,,,,display or for usage on another work

Answer 3

Hi Prof. A lot of it depends upon the age of the object d'art, you can purchase the copyright from some artists, some artist make no claim as they give over all rights as soon as the work is sold and if the painting is very old you can do what you like. Good luck

Answer 4

usually the rights of an paintings belong to the artist in the event that they're alive or with their assets or "commencing place" in the event that they're ineffective. Do your superb to locate a commencing place or assets. If none exists, you would be advantageous. in case you only reproduction it and sell it with out in seek of out an assets or commencing place, you would be able to get an offended letter from their attorneys telling you to stop and desist sale and reproduction. it particularly is a small hazard that it ought to ensue, yet you have a portray it somewhat is a replica of yet another greater nicely-standard portray, wherein case you have no longer any rights in any respect to sell or reproduce. working example, if I painted a replica of Andy Warhol's Marilyn and somebody discovered it once I died, that somebody might have no rights to the "image" different than to hold the reproduction of their abode or sell it to somebody else as a replica. it particularly is a slippery section in paintings promoting. superb to seek for advice from an attny in case you have any doubts.

Answer 5

In America you dont own the copyright if you buy artwork you own the artwork only. The artist still keeps the copyright on it, unless they pass it on to you. Most artist dont, as they do not want people to reproudce or copy the artwork.

Answer 6

THe copyright belongs to the artist .
Sorry M8 but are you for REAL