RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
- Court Rules On Summary Judgment Motions In Case Over Keith Haring Deal That Fell Apart, Issuing Some Helpful Reminders For Dealers and Collectors
In late December, a New York state court granted summary judgment in a dispute over an art deal that fell apart. The decision is likely to be of interest to many dealers and collectors, as it addresses important contract and agency law issues, against a backdrop of dynamics that are not uncommon in art transactions. - Public Domain Day: The Next Generation of American Works Joins the Public Domain
On January 1, a new cache of literature, music and art became part of the public domain as another year of copyright protection expired. At the start of each year, creative works produced more than 95 years prior become available for public use and enjoyment. - Updates From Across the Pond: New Developments In Two Major Stories From the European Art Market
Updates on the ongoing issues arising out of the discovery of several forged Old Master works on the European art market and a bitter, globe-spanning feud between a mega-collector and his onetime dealer. Both of these complex situations will continue to reverberate throughout the art ecosystem. - Dispute Between State Street and Artist Over “Fearless Girl” Raises Myriad Questions About Contracts, Trademark, and Challenges Inherent in Commissioned and Public Art
The statue, titled Fearless Girl, created a sensation when it was first unveiled on International Women’s Day in 2017 in New York City. The legal questions involved in the case serve as a case study about the complex issues that can arise with commissioned and public art projects.