Visual Art Copyright Laws
by Sam Pavey

Copyright laws exist for everything published. However, you do need to file for copyright if legal action is warranted. It may sound like a headache, but it could be the best thing an artist could do. A copyright will not be granted if the work is not an original piece of art. This would infringe on the original art’s own copyright.
The Library of Congress Copyright office has a three step approach for filing for a copyright. First, make sure the work is a visual arts piece of work. This includes pictorial, graphic, or sculptural pieces of work as well as 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional works of fine, graphic, and applied art. Second, place a completed application Form VA, a $30 payment to “Register of Copyrights”, and a non returnable copy(ies) of the material to be registered in an envelope or package. Lastly, send the package to the Library of Congress Copyright Office at 101 Independence Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20559-6000. The Copyright Office warns that your copyright becomes effective the day the Copyright Office receives the application for copyright along with the above mentioned items. The certificate of registration will take 4 to 5 months to process.
The Pierce Law website provides information of copyright limits. The website says copyright encourages the creative efforts of authors, artists, and others by securing the exclusive right to reproduce works and derive income from them. The website allows people that are authors or artists to get information on their rights where copyright issues are involved. Copyright does not give an owner the right to sell or distribute work the website further explains. The website also puts into perspective that a copyright can only be obtained for an original piece of artwork not a drawing of someone else’s painting for example. The website strongly encourages seeking the advice of counsel when dealing with copyright issues particularly transferring copyright. This may be necessary for artists to research as they may want to sell pieces of their original artwork and having copyright laws explained by an attorney or copyrighter would be in their best interest rather than attempting to understand copyright laws on their own. The website has a plethora of information as mentioned as well as copyright infringement and selling and licensing rights.
Copyrighting artwork should not be taken lightly but also an artist should consider if they could benefit from having copyrights on the pieces of work. It could simplify or eliminate problems that could arise from the sale of original pieces of work by the artist. Artists should seek the advice of counsel to better explain copyright laws and benefits. An attorney or copyrighter is more knowledgeable of the copyright laws than an artist would be. Copyrighting is something to consider as an artist to help further their career.

Bibliography
U.S. Copyright Office - Registration. Unk. U.S. Copyright Office. 06 March 2005. http://www.copyright.gov/register.
Welcome to the DiscoverySchool.com.... Unk. Discovery School. 06 March 2005. http://school.discovery.com.
Art Law Center: art law, copyright litigation, copyright infringement. Unk. Art Law Center. 06 March 2005. http://www.artlaws.com.
Copyright in Visual Arts. 07 December 2002. Franklin Pierce Law Center. 06 March 2005. http://www.piercelaw.edu/tfield/CopyVis.htm

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