Art Copyright

Art copyright is the legal right granted to an artist over their original work, which is automatically protected from the moment it is fixed in a tangible medium, such as canvas, paper, or digital file.

This right gives the artist control over how their work is reproduced, distributed, and displayed, and it typically lasts for their lifetime plus a number of years after their death, often 50 to 70 years depending on the jurisdiction.

The artist also holds moral rights, which include the right to be credited for their work and to object to any derogatory treatment of it.

While copyright is inherent upon the creation of the work, registration can strengthen protection and aid in legal disputes.

Infringement occurs when copyrighted work is used without permission, but there are exceptions for fair use, which allow limited use for commentary, education, or parody, among other purposes.

Artists can license or transfer their rights, though moral rights are generally not transferable.

As digital technology evolves, so does copyright law, adapting to new forms of creation and distribution to ensure that artists' rights are protected in an increasingly digital world.