What rights do I have as the author of a work of art?
November 15, 2022 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Chloé Tressel
Dear lawyer,
My name is Nina Ullmann and I am an artist. Some time ago, I created a piece of artwork that I would now like to publish and potentially sell. I have some questions regarding my rights as the author of the work.
First of all, I am unsure about the rights that I have as the author. Can I determine who can reproduce, publish, or sell my artwork? How can I ensure that my rights as the author are protected and that nobody can use my work without my permission?
Furthermore, I am concerned that my artwork could be copied or altered without my permission. How can I protect myself against this and take action in case of a copyright infringement?
I am also interested in knowing how long my copyright on my artwork lasts and if there are ways to extend or renew these rights.
I would greatly appreciate it if you could assist me with this matter and provide possible solutions. Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Nina Ullmann
Dear Mrs. Ullmann,
Thank you for your questions regarding your rights as the author of your artwork. As an artist, you have certain rights to your work that are automatically granted to you upon creation of the work. These rights include the right to reproduce, distribute, exhibit, and exploit your work.
As the author, you have the ability to determine who can reproduce, publish, or sell your artwork. You can grant licenses to allow others to use your work, or issue prohibitions to prevent unauthorized use. To ensure that your rights as the author are protected, I recommend registering your works and displaying copyright notices. This way, you can more easily take legal action against infringers in case of a violation.
To protect against unauthorized copies or alterations of your artwork, you can also use technical measures such as watermarks or digital signatures. In the event of a violation, you can take legal steps to claim damages and obtain an injunction against the use of your work.
The duration of your copyright to your artwork is typically your life plus 70 years. After this period, your works enter the public domain and can be used by anyone. However, it is possible to extend or renew your copyright by registering your works in a copyright registry, for example.
I hope this information is helpful to you and I am available for any further questions.
Sincerely,
Chloé Tressel
