LibGuides: Entertainment Law Research Guide: Art Law

Introduction

Art Law can be defined as a body of law that comprises of many disciplines such as, intellectual property, contract, constitutional, tort, tax, commercial and international law. The creation, sale, collection and display of art receive specialized legal treatment by statute, ordinance, regulation, treaty or case law. Below are some suggested readings for those performing research or have an interest to pursue this area of law.

Suggested Reading

Introduction: Some Thoughts on "Art Law" by Stephen E. Weil
Stephen Weil provides information on the development of art law as an area of study and practice in this article. 85 Dick. L. Rev. 555 (1981).
Art Law in a Nutshell by Leonard DuBoff; Christy King; Michael Murray
Duboff's Art Law in a Nutshell explores the legal concerns surrounding museums and collecting while providing an overview of art as an investment, from copyrights to trademarks. The definition of customs, global art movements, and war victims are some of the topics explored.
Comic Art, Creativity and the Law by Marc H. Greenberg
The book looks at how legal issues including contracts, copyright (including termination rights, parody, and character ownership), taxes, and obscenity laws affect the creative process. By investigating the impact that these rules' frequently uneven and illogical interpretation has had on the lives of comic book authors, retailers, and fans, it explores how these regulations both support and restrict the process of creating comics. It offers an explanation for the seemingly conflicting results in the two major comic book parody instances, the Winter Brothers case and the Air Pirates case, and does it in a way that is unique. Lastly, it provides a thorough explanation and analysis of the development and use of the copyright law's "work for hire" doctrine and how it affects those who create comics.
Posthumous Art, Law and the Art Market by Sharon Hecker (Editor); Peter J. Karol (Editor)
Through the eyes of academics from the fields of art history, economics, and law, as well as working artists, this book takes an interdisciplinary, transnational, and cross-cultural approach to reflect on, critically examine, and challenge the surprisingly robust practice of making art after death in an artist's name.
Art Law by Michael E. Jones
Deciphering proper process can appear difficult given the vast number of pieces of art in the world and the complex rules governing their maintenance. Michael E. Jones simplifies the legalese into a clear resource for everyone involved in the art industry in Art Law: A Comprehensive Handbook for Artists, Curators, and Art Educators.