A group of artists have brought law suits against auction houses Sothebys, Christies and online auction website Ebay for failure to pay royalties following the resale of their art works. The artists include Chuck Close, Laddie John Dill and the estate of Robert Graham.
The law suits were filed in California which is the only U.S. State to have resale right legislation, however payment of resale royalties is avoided for the most part by galleries and art dealers.
Links to articles on the recent law suits and further information below:
Articles on recent lawsuit
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/10/art-royalties-law-california-.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/arts/design/artists-file-suit-against-sothebys-christies-and-ebay.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Description of the California Resale Royalty Act
http://www.cac.ca.gov/resaleroyaltyact/resaleroyaltyact.php
Text of the California Resale Royalty Act
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=civ&group=00001-01000&file=980-989
Artists file suit against Sothebys, Christies and Ebay
A group of artists have brought law suits against auction houses Sothebys, Christies and online auction website Ebay for failure to pay royalties following the resale of their art works. The artists include Chuck Close, Laddie John Dill and the estate of Robert Graham.
The law suits were filed in California which is the only U.S. State to have resale right legislation, however payment of resale royalties is avoided for the most part by galleries and art dealers.
Links to articles on the recent law suits and further information below:
Articles on recent lawsuit
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/10/art-royalties-law-california-.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/arts/design/artists-file-suit-against-sothebys-christies-and-ebay.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Description of the California Resale Royalty Act
http://www.cac.ca.gov/resaleroyaltyact/resaleroyaltyact.php
Text of the California Resale Royalty Act
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=civ&group=00001-01000&file=980-989