Copyright of Art Piece – Who Owns it?
This is a very interesting question when it comes to buying artwork, reselling artwork, or making copies of that artwork. When an artist create an original work such as an art piece copyright automatically attaches itself to that work. Copyrights last the life of the author plus 70 years. I mention this because if the copyright of that art piece is up and in the public domain then copying the work is legal. However, if the copyrighted work is still active then the owner has the right to exclude others from reproducing and selling the copyrighted work. So, when using someone else’s artwork make sure you have a license to use or it is in the public domain before using.
Selling Original Art
When an artist sells an original art piece they are selling that piece once with no copies made. The purchaser owns that sole piece of art as the original creating value in that piece. However, the artist usually does not transfer their copyright ownership in that piece when selling that piece. Therefore, the owner has a limit license to display and own that piece unless the artist assigns the copyright over to that individual.
Creating Copies
Creating copies and selling them as prints of the original can give the artist the opportunity to get that piece out to the public instead of one individual. However, the copies that are sold only give the owner the right to own that copy and to not recreate that art piece and sell it unless it is in the public domain.
US Trademark Office Cancels Marvel, DC’s ‘Super Hero’ Marks
In a stunning turn of events that reads like a comic book plot itself, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) has canceled four longstanding trademarks for “Super Hero” and “Super Heroes” jointly owned by comic book giants Marvel and DC Comics.¹ The September 26, 2024 decision marks the end of a 57-year monopoly on terms that have become synonymous with an entire entertainment genre.
What Is a Trademark and Why Do You Need One?
What Is a Trademark and Why Do You Need One? If you’re building a business, protecting your brand should be one of your top priorities. One of the most effective ways to safeguard your company’s identity is through trademark registration.
AI and Copyright Law: Complete Guide to the U.S. Copyright Office Report on Artificial Intelligence
The U.S. Copyright Office released a multi-part AI report in 2024-2025. Part 1 addresses digital replicas, Part 2 covers AI-generated content copyrightability. Key finding: only human-authored works qualify for copyright protection. Purely AI-generated content from prompts cannot be copyrighted, but AI can assist human creativity without affecting copyright eligibility.