NewsArt theft
German socialite Angela Gulbenkian pleads guilty to theft in London court
The charges against her stemmed from the fraudulent sale of a £1.1m Yayoi Kusama pumpkin sculpture to a Hong Kong collector, while a similar claim against her over a Warhol portrait remains in German court
NewsLaw
Settlement reached over Robert Indiana’s estate—paving way for planned museum in artist's home in Maine
Under the agreement, the Morgan Art Foundation will continue to promote the Pop artist's work in museums and on the market
NewsArt market
If you sell art in the UK, you must register for anti-money laundering supervision by tomorrow—or risk prosecution
"Art market participants" who sell works of art worth €10,000 (£8,600) or more must register with the HMRC by 10 June
NewsLaw
French heir renounces title to Nazi-looted Pissarro painting found in Oklahoma
The Shepherdess Bringing in Sheep will return this summer to the University of Oklahoma, which will seek a French partner for future exchanges
NewsArt market
Not laughing now: Banksy loses second trademark case over famous monkey image
Ruling slams British street artist for “sham efforts” in trying to mislead the European Union Intellectual Property Office
NewsDesign
Artists’ signal-jamming chandelier sculpture challenges our reliance on technology—and FCC laws
The goal of the design is to encourage interpersonal connections and promote mental health
NewsArt market
Bill and Melinda Gates are divorcing—what will happen to their art?
As the multi-billionaire couple announce they are ending their marriage, we look at some of the art world's bitterest splits
NewsLaw
Tate Modern neighbours head to Supreme Court over 'relentless' invasion of privacy
Residents next to the London museum continue legal battle after losing case to close viewing platform that allows visitors to see inside their flats
NewsArt market
US judge throws out latest non-payment case involving Anatole Shagalov
Dispute with Artemus centred on a multimillion-dollar leaseback arrangement involving Keith Haring and Frank Stella works
NewsArt market
French galleries sue state over Covid-19 closure
The gallery association CPGA is going to court, claiming its members are “victims of a distortion of competition” as auction houses are allowed to stay open
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Virtual museum law conference shows how the pandemic has affected institutional administration
From dealing with cyberattacks on newly implemented digital offerings, to figuring out how to renegotiate a postponed loan, the coronavirus has raised a whole new crop of issues for museums
NewsLaw
New York Supreme Court permanently bans gallery from showing ‘distorted’ image of artist’s work
Pat Lipsky had sued Spanierman Gallery under the 1980 Artist Authorship Rights Act for digitally manipulating a photograph of her Color Field painting Bright Music II
NewsGreece
Archaeologists appeal to Greek prime minister to halt restructuring of five big antiquities museums
Experts oppose culture ministry's proposal to separate Greece's major museums from the state archaeological service
CommentArt market
Risky business: how new US sanctions regulations will actually impact the art market
The US government has the 'regulatory vacuum' in its sights—here is a guide to who will be affected and how
NewsPolitics
Ukrainian art scholar reportedly tortured and imprisoned by Russian forces on ‘absurd’ espionage charges
International Council of Museums committees in Ukraine and Poland appeal for help to secure Olena Pekh's release
NewsRestitution
Germany proposes law change to ease Nazi-loot returns from private foundations
Law change follows refusal by some foundations to restitute property lost due to Nazi persecution
NewsGuelph Treasure
US Supreme Court sides with Germany in Guelph Treasure case
In a unanimous opinion, it found the country cannot be sued for taking property from its own citizens, making it harder for the heirs of some Holocaust victims to recover art through the US justice system
News US politics
US Capitol riot: Pennsylvania artist charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct
Federal authorities have ordered Andrew Wrigley to turn over his passport and avoid travel to Washington, DC after posting selfies from the insurrection
NewsLaw
Art lawyer Frank Lord opens private practice in New York
As well as working on high profile restitution cases, the former Herrick Feinstein partner has a PhD in art history
NewsArt market
French High Court orders retrial of Wildenstein art dynasty tax fraud case
Guy Wildenstein and his nephew were accused of hiding assets worth hundreds of millions but were acquitted in 2017 and 2018—now they are wanted back in court for a third trial
NewsArt market
Lawsuit claims $100m damages in tangled case of hidden Russian art worth $60m
Shchukin Gallery and its lawyers file new lawsuit against Russian financier Rustam Iseev, his lawyer and a New York Supreme Court judge in bid to uncover location of paintings
CommentArt market
How art world leaders can embrace new money laundering regulations and create a 'think risk' culture
Punishment for the new rules now falls on the art market's top dogs, says Sotheby’s founding global compliance director Rena Neville
NewsLaw
US Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Guelph Treasure claim
The case centres on whether Germany’s taking of a trove of medieval church reliquaries from its own Jewish citizens was a violation of international law—potentially opening the door for other reparations
CommentArt market
The art trade benefits from the UK's low import duty. What will happen to it after Brexit?
As talks with the EU resume to reach a last-ditch trade deal, the lawyer Louise Williamson looks at what UK import rules might look like after 1 January
NewsLaw
US museums groups raise concerns as settlement deal over Nazi-looted Pissarro heads back to court
The work, returned to the French heiress Léone-Noëlle Meyer in 2016, was meant to go back on display at Oklahoma’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum next year
NewsArt market
Seller contests having to repay Sotheby’s for allegedly forged Frans Hals
In latest hearing of ongoing legal saga, Fairlight Art Ventures, co-vendor of painting sold in 2011 for $11.75m, is refusing to pay auction house more than $5.3m
NewsArt market
New York state sues Sotheby's for allegedly helping collector evade tax on $27m of art
Auction house "vigorously refutes the unfounded allegations" made by the attorney general, who claims the auction house knowingly aided the offshore company Porsal Equities
NewsRestitution
French Senate votes unanimously for restitution to Benin and Senegal in 'act of friendship and trust'
Senate approves bill to return 27 colonial-era artefacts from museum collections to Africa within one year
NewsLaw
Germany’s arguments to toss Guelph Treasure case raise concerns from US lawmakers
In Supreme Court filings, the country claims the sale of a valuable collection at a deep discount during the Nazi-era did not violate international law
NewsLaw
US Supreme Court and its impact on the arts: 1990-2020
From freedom of speech trials to Holocaust restitution cases , the country’s highest court regularly weighs in on issues that affect the art world
NewsLaw
Sackler family to pay $225m in civil settlement with US government
The deal with the Department of Justice, which also includes guilty pleas and a $8bn fine against Purdue Pharma, does not prevent future claims against family members or company executives
NewsBrazil
Inhotim cannot use works from its collection to pay off founder's debt, judge rules
The Brazilian arts park signed an agreement in 2016 to donate 20 works from its collection to the government in order to repay Bernardo Paz's $110m tax debt for laundering donations
NewsLaw
In victory for street artists, US Supreme Court declines to hear 5Pointz developer’s appeal
A New York judge previously awarded $6.75m in damages to the artists, whose graffiti was whitewashed from a Queens warehouse
NewsRestitution
France’s National Assembly votes to return colonial-era artefacts to Benin and Senegal
Accelerated bill enabling restitution of 27 objects from French museums passes first vote in parliament
NewsRestitution
France ordered to return three Derain paintings to heirs of Jewish dealer René Gimpel
Ruling by Paris court of appeal sets an important precedent for pending restitution claim over 16 paintings in French museum collections
NewsRestitution
Police search for Benin Bronze protestor—found guilty of 'threatening behaviour'
Isaiah Ogundele, who demonstrated outside the Museum of London, Docklands for the objects' repatriation, failed to appear at his court hearing earlier this month
NewsLawsuits
Insurers fight $107m claim for Modigliani paintings seized by Italian police
A US dealer says he is owed millions by insurance brokers for 12 works that were confiscated by authorities from the Palazzo Ducale in 2017 as suspected fakes
NewsLaw
Robert Indiana’s Star of Hope reaches deal with Morgan Art Foundation to end ongoing legal battles
The two organisations will work together to settle the artist’s estate and get his charitable foundation up and running in Maine
NewsBrazil
Court-ordered auction of works from disgraced Brazilian banker's collection prompts new controversy
The Museum of Contemporary Art at the University of São Paulo claims it is owed $3.6m for conserving and storing around 1,600 works repossessed from bankrupt Banco Santos president Edemar Cid Ferreira
NewsMuseums
Paris court case shines a light on growing cosiness between curators, state museums and galleries
Marlborough gallery and a retired Guimet Museum curator are accused of bribery in their promotion of the artist Chu Teh-Chun—but say they broke no rules
NewsBanksy
Banksy loses trademark battle over his famous Flower Thrower image
The street artist opened a pop-up shop in Croydon last year in a bid to protect his image rights, but was found to have “acted in bad faith”
NewsArt market
UK High Court ruling could be 'welcome news' for arts organisations denied Covid-19 insurance payout
Judgment this week ruled in favour of the Financial Conduct Authority's test case seeking clarification of policies as many insurers refuse to pay out during the pandemic
NewsLaw
Bathurst family sues art lender over Gainsborough painting offered as collateral by disgraced dealer
The noble family, whose ancestors are depicted in the work, says Art Finance Partners should have known Timothy Sammons did not legally own the painting
NewsLaw
US appeals court rules—with regret—that Thyssen-Bornemisza Foundation can keep Nazi-looted Pissarro
Judges noted the Spanish government, which signed the Washington Principles in 1998, “can preen as moralistic in its declarations”, yet not be bound by them
NewsArt market
Senate investigation finds art market secrecy allowed Russian billionaire brothers, friends of Putin, to evade government sanctions
A detailed report calls the trade “the largest, legal unregulated industry in the United States” and recommends increased transparency and government oversight
NewsLaw
California may grant repatriation rights to unrecognised Native American tribes
A new state bill expands federal rights for Indigenous groups to reclaim human remains, burial objects and other sacred artefacts from institutions
NewsArt crime
California man sentenced to five years in prison for $6m international art fraud scheme
Philip Righter pleaded guilty to selling works fraudulently attributed to Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, among others
NewsLaw
International Criminal Court trial begins of Jihadist police chief accused of destroying Timbuktu’s cultural heritage
Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud is on trial for war crimes in Mali
NewsLaw
New York grand jury indicts Inigo Philbrick on federal fraud charges
The dealer was arrested by the FBI on the Pacific island Vanuatu last month and transferred into federal custody
NewsTutankhamun
BBC investigation uncovers legal dispute over blockbuster Tutankhamun exhibition
Lawyer says Egypt breached heritage protection laws by contracting a private company to tour the artefacts
NewsArt market
Monaco court dismisses criminal case against Yves Bouvier
The Swiss art dealer had been accused of fraud and money laundering by the Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev—a related case in Geneva remains active
NewsLaw
Heirs battle estate over $30m Monet painting from Emden collection sold during Nazi era
Le Palais Ducal is at the centre of an ownership dispute that has kept the work from coming to auction
NewsRestitution
US Supreme Court agrees to hear Berlin museums' appeal in lawsuit over restitution of medieval treasures to Jewish heirs
Panel will consider museums' argument that a trial over rightful ownership of the Guelph Treasure cannot be heard in American courts
NewsLaw
Colour balance: painter Pat Lipsky sues over digitally ‘distorted’ images of her work
The artist says photographs of her canvas Bright Music II, offered for sale online, have been altered beyond recognition as her work
NewsAustralia
‘Broken’ heritage laws: Australia launches investigation after 46,000-year-old Aboriginal rock art is obliterated
Parliamentary enquiry will examine how mining giant Rio Tinto obtained legal right to destroy ancient Juukan Gorge site
NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
Paris dealer who sold golden sarcophagus to New York’s Metropolitan Museum charged with fraud and money laundering
The work was returned to Egypt last year after officials were shown evidence it might have been looted during the Arab Spring in 2011
NewsRussia
Russian theatre director Kirill Serebrennikov found guilty of fraud and ordered to pay $1.85m in damages to culture ministry
Accused of embezzling funds while staging a contemporary arts festival, Serebrennikov faced six years in prison but was handed a suspended sentence
NewsArt market
Video, virtual hearings and 'e-bundles': how remote justice is being served in art cases during the pandemic
A focus on long-term planning and contract law are among the chief lockdown concerns
NewsCensorship
'I have a 1% chance of being acquitted': Russian activist faces six years in prison for posting vagina drawings online
Police say the body-positive images, accompanied by captions like ‘Real women have body fat and it’s normal,’ violate pornography laws
NewsUnions
Labour organising committee assails Philadelphia museum’s use of a ‘union avoidance’ law firm
Employees call on the museum to take a position of neutrality in any union vote
NewsAntiquities
Sotheby’s cannot sue Greece over bronze horse, US court rules
The country's government had questioned the provenance of the artefact, forcing it to be pulled from a 2018 sale
NewsHong Kong
Hong Kong artists abroad launch pro-democracy platform as China's security law looms
Online project documents one year of anti-government protests in the territory and aims to rally support from international art community
NewsArt market
Mary Boone released from prison early after the facility sees spike in coronavirus cases
Jailed for tax fraud, the incarcerated Manhattan dealer has been moved to a re-entry facility just under half way through her 30-month sentence
NewsDisasters & destruction
Mining company Rio Tinto apologises for destruction of 46,000-year-old Aboriginal site
Blasting of two ancient rock shelters at Juukan Gorge was authorised in 2013 by Western Australia state government
NewsLaw
Court dismisses Cady Noland’s lawsuit against collector and dealers who conserved Log Cabin sculpture
The conceptual artist, who disavowed the work, claimed that replacing materials without her consent violated the US Visual Artists Rights Act
NewsHeritage
Steve Bannon wins first major battle for medieval monastery
Italy retaliates with criminal prosecution of right-wing religious group funded by US President Donald Trump’s former chief strategist
NewsArt market
Convicted art fraudster Ezra Chowaiki subject of yet more legal drama
New racketeering suit against the disgraced New York art dealer, brought by a Spanish collector regarding paintings by Picasso and Léger, gets off to a mixed start
NewsArt market
Gold tycoon and art collector James Stunt charged with money laundering and forgery
The former husband of heiress Petra Ecclestone denies any criminality and says he will contest all charges
Analysiscoronavirus
Can’t pay your rent? Here’s what you can do if you're a UK gallery
Coronavirus has left many art businesses struggling to pay their bills, but there are resources available to help
NewsLaw
New York court rules Call of Duty video game as art
The gaming publisher Activision is protected under the First Amendment to use the Humvee vehicle brand “if realism is an artistic goal"
NewsAuction houses
Christie's settles $16.7m in tax claims with New York District Attorney
Manhattan prosecutors say the auction house failed to collect sales tax on $189m in private sales over five years
NewsCopyright
US copyright law comes under scrutiny as new legislation makes its way before Congress
A planned new mediation system, which aims to streamline copyright breach claims in the US, has loopholes that could deny artists justice, critics say
NewsLaw
Supreme Court rules film-maker cannot sue North Carolina for copyright infringement
Opinion finds Congress overstepped its authority with 1990 federal statute, but allowed for a new law to "stop states from behaving as copyright pirates"
NewsCollectors
Portuguese judge orders seizure of all assets owned by African art collector Isabel dos Santos in the country
Move is intended to stall the sales of stakes in multi-million-Euro companies based in Portugal
CommentLaw
The US Supreme Court’s silence on Nazi art theft fails Holocaust survivors
Last week’s decision to reject an appeal over the ownership of Picasso’s The Actor was a missed opportunity to clarify the limitations of the 2016 HEAR Act
NewsBanksy
Charges dropped against South African billionaire over allegedly fraudulent Banksy deal
Martin Levick had been accused of duping an investor into lending him $3.5m for the purchase of the work
NewsLaw
Mary Boone sued by former director for withholding wages and ‘misappropriating’ more than $10m
The incarcerated dealer allegedly had Gagosian gallery wire millions into her personal account for the sale of a Brice Marden painting to pay off tax penalties before she went to jail
NewsLaw
France reconfirms that women baring their breasts in public is illegal—even for artists and protestors
Two women who are part of the Ukrainian feminist group Femen were charged for topless protests, one of which was in a Paris museum
NewsItaly
Steve Bannon wins again in battle against Italian ministry of culture
President Donald Trump’s former chief strategist wants to set up a nationalist bootcamp in an Italian monastery
AnalysisArt market
When artists and galleries split, what are the legal implications?
As successful artists increasingly seek non-exclusive contracts with multiple galleries, clarity becomes critical in navigating splits between artist and gallery
NewsMuseums
Uffizi wins legal battle against 'cybersquatter' owner of Uffizi.com domain name
The unofficial websites were used to sell tickets to the Florentine museum at inflated prices
NewsLaw
New York dealer sues artist Derek Fordjour for $1.45m
Gallery owner and real estate investor Robert Blumenthal claims the artist failed to deliver seven works promised in a $20,000 deal made in 2014
NewsLaw
San Francisco artist sues Disney for copying her ‘tremendously cool’ painted van in Pixar film
Sweet Cecily Daniher rented her unicorn decorated vehicle to the studio for a party, only to find out its doppelganger will appear in the animated movie Onward
NewsArtist estates
New York judge dismisses further counterclaims made by Robert Indiana's estate against Morgan Art Foundation
The decision made yesterday follows a similar ruling made last July in which the estate’s counterclaims of non-payment of royalties and unauthorised reproductions were dismissed
NewsMuseums
Tate privacy battle over viewing platform 'snooping' goes back to court
Claimant says she feels “completely exposed” in her apartment overlooked by the museum
NewsLaw
Artist pleads guilty to assault and harassment charges in domestic violence case
As part of plea agreement, Tobias Madison must attend a 26-week batterers’ programme and attend weekly therapy sessions to have his criminal record cleared in a year’s time
NewsNazi loot
Supreme Court delays Guelph Treasure appeal so US government can add its views to case
The German state museum agency has argued that it cannot be sued in American courts by heirs of Jewish dealers who sold the works during the Holocaust
NewsControversies
Luanda Leaks: Isabel dos Santos—who owns vast African art collection—accused of making her $2.2bn fortune by exploiting Angola
Dos Santos and her husband Sindika Dokolo own around 3,000 works by artists including William Kentridge and Zanele Muholi
NewsArt crime
Why do courts lack conviction in art cases?
Collapse of Bulmer theft case is just the latest in string of failed art-related convictions
NewsArt market
Tough UK anti-money laundering law comes into force tomorrow—here's what you need to know
The lawyer Kenneth Mullen offers advice to art dealers, agents and galleries who could be unprepared for the hastily enforced new regulations
NewsRestitution
New evidence cited in restitution claim for Panama Papers Modigliani
Dealer Oscar Stettiner’s grandson says painting, now owned by David Nahmad, was looted by Nazis
NewsArt market
'A victory of justice over big money': criminal case against art dealer Yves Bouvier dismissed by Monaco court
Verdict is likely to have a domino effect on all other cases filed by Russian billionaire collector Dmitry Rybolovlev
NewsArt market
Judicial review of UK Ivory Act rejected
After months of fundraising to bring legal action, judge dismisses antiques trade's objections to upcoming ban
NewsLaw
Who really owns this Schiele watercolour Portrait of the Artist's Wife?
A three-way battle is brewing in New York courts as the heirs of two Holocaust victims take on the work’s current owner
NewsLaw
A 13-year fight over cardboard: Kippenberger restoration drama finally comes to a close
Inadvertent damage to paintings’ frames triggered a drawn-out, multi-million dollar lawsuit
NewsArt market
US House of Representatives passes an anti-money laundering bill that could affect art and antiquities dealers
Introduced in March, the Counter Act is the latest legislation that faces dealers with financial regulatory burden
NewsForgeries
Hollywood executive Ron Meyer files $10m lawsuit over alleged forged Rothko
The NBCUniversal vice chairman and co-founder of Creative Artists Agency claims two art dealers duped him into buying the fake painting for nearly $1m in 2001
NewsArt market
Passions run high as UK's controversial Ivory Act challenged in court
Antiques trade fought for judicial review of proposed ban, due to come into force in the coming months, but draft judgement will not be made until 31 October
NewsOpioid Crisis
Nan Goldin brings Pain to Purdue Pharma bankruptcy hearings in New York
Demonstrators at the White Plains courthouse kept up the pressure to hold Sackler family accountable in opioid crisis, as a $10bn settlement hangs in the balance
CommentNFTs
The looming legal and regulatory questions NFT collectors and sellers should prepare for
An expert in anti-money laundering laws shares her thoughts on the booming digital art marketplace
Paige Mason