Protecting the creativity of the artist and helping the art business.      

Art law is primarily copyright law and business law, particularly contract law.  A copyright provides artists certain rights in their works, the best known of these being the right to prevent others from copying and selling the work.  Copyright protection attaches immediately on creation of the work, but there are certain benefits to registering the work.  

Art law also deals with the business of art, including purchases and sales of important works and representation agreements between artists and galleries.   
 

The law of antiquities has some of the purchase and sales issues in common with art law, but it also includes important considerations about the legality of sales of some objects, particularly ancient Native American artifacts and artifacts derived from animal products such as ivory, tortoise shell, and feathers of endangered birds of prey.     
 

Whether you are an artist, a gallery owner, or a collector, if you have an art law issue please call the Carson Law Firm.  Examples include  any of the following:
 

• Copyright protection and litigation

• Gallery representation agreements

• Purchase and sale agreements