ArchiveKnoedler
Names of buyers deceived by Knoedler Gallery fakes disclosed
The document details museums, art dealers and private collectors who have brought charges against the gallery and its disgraced director
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
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
NewsArt crime
Money laundering, trafficking, ivory: crackdown on art crime intensifies
Wave of sentencing and changes in legislation puts pressure on art world
NewsLaw
Letter calls attention to domestic assault allegations against Swiss artist
Signatories have asked New York's Swiss Institute to address “troubling claims” about an artist included in current group show
NewsArtist estates
How to make the most of an artist’s estate
Four takeaways from the Institute for Artists’ Estates’ Los Angeles workshop
NewsBanksy
The full story behind Banksy's pop-up shop in Croydon
Street artist has created merchandise range from disco balls made from riot police helmets to hand-stitched welcome mats
ArchiveLaw
Italy sues for return of antique pottery which they claim to own under national law because they are objects of archaeological interest.
The US has filed a complaint in a federal district court to determine who owns 230 antiquities produced in ancient Italian pottery workshops
NewsLaw
Art history professor Gary Xu Gang accused of sexual assault and rape by two former students
Plaintiffs' lawyer says sexual harassment of university students remains an 'epidemic' despite the progress of the #MeToo movement
News US politics
Experts fear California's gig economy law may hit culture workers
Independent curators and handlers could be affected but no major changes predicted in museum recruitment practices
NewsUSA
Sackler family agrees to give up 'entire value' of Purdue Pharma in bid to settle opioid cases
But state attorneys general predict an imminent bankruptcy filing as settlement talks break down
NewsLaw
Families express frustration over trial outcome in California's Ghost Ship fire
Acquittal for one man and deadlock on another shifts focus to pending civil lawsuit
ArchiveUSA
US government intervenes as Israel bombing victims issue lawsuit asking for Iranian antiquities from museums
Iran argues that artefacts housed abroad should have immunity since they originate from a foreign sovereign state
NewsLaw
London art dealer Joseph Nahmad spared jail after banging ex-partner’s head against wall during drunken row
Nahmad received a suspended sentence on Friday and must attend 20 days of rehab
NewsLaw
‘Completely unacceptable’: Nan Goldin attacks proposed settlement in opioid crisis
Artist says the reported deal is a cynical attempt to avoid significant restitution
NewsLaw
Sacklers in talks over multibillion-dollar settlement of opioid crisis lawsuits
Proposed settlement calls for family's company Purdue Pharma to file for bankruptcy and become a public trust distributing profits
NewsArt law
Number of Manhattan's park art vendors can be limited by New York City, court rules
Appeals court says that guidelines limiting number of sellers in four green spaces are constitutional
NewsArtists
Robert Indiana’s caretaker allowed him ‘to live in squalor and filth’ despite artist having $13m in the bank
Jamie Thomas is accused of stealing more than $1m and 100 works of art from the late artist in new court filing
NewsArt market
Timothy Sammons 'very remorseful' as he is jailed for defrauding clients of up to $30m
British art dealer sentenced to up to 12 years after pleading guilty to fraud and grand larceny in the New York State Supreme Court
NewsLaw
London art dealer Joseph Nahmad banged partner’s head against wall during drunken row at Knightsbridge flat
Nahmad could face jail time after admitting two counts of assault against Georgia Barry
NewsLaw
Family claims quarter share of disputed Isleworth Mona Lisa
The painting, long the subject of an attribution dispute, is now at the centre of a legal conflict over ownership
NewsLaw
Street artist sues Ellen DeGeneres and Walmart for copyright infringement
Julian Rivera says his heart-shaped “love” design was copied on a popular line of clothing without his permission
CommentLaw
Why this Cézanne painting could hold the key to solving thorny heritage disputes
Innovative agreement to share contested work from Gurlitt trove provides a roadmap for similar legal cases
NewsLaw
Collector says he was duped into selling Brancusi sculpture
He seeks $200m in damages from lawyer who he says "hoodwinked" him
ArchiveCollectors
Mystery of London dealer’s inflated invoices for world’s biggest collector, the head of Qatar's National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage
The Art Newspaper has obtained invoices sent by Oliver Hoare to Sheikh Saud Al-Thani of Qatar, who remains under arrest in Doha as authorities investigate alleged misuse of public funds
NewsLaw
The last lawsuit in the Knoedler fakes scandal is close to being settled
The Hilti Trust and the defunct gallery’s owners are in the process of reaching an agreement—but they could still end up in court
NewsLooted art
US authorities file criminal charges against antiquities dealer Subhash Kapoor and seven others
The government’s complaint outlines a massive alleged smuggling ring involving other dealers, art restorers and associates who helped create false provenances for looted objects
NewsRobert Indiana
Robert Indiana latest: New York judge dismisses majority of counterclaims made by artist’s estate against Morgan Art Foundation
Allegations that the foundation underpaid Indiana and fabricated unauthorised reproductions of his work were rejected this week
NewsArt market
Warhol's Prince series ruled fair use by a New York judge in contested copyright case
The ruling settles a heated two-year legal battle between the artist's foundation and photographer Lynn Goldsmith, who shot the original image in 1981
NewsArt market
A new catalogue raisonné organisation aims to foil fakes in the art market
The membership-based International Catalogue Raisonné Association will offer discounted legal advice and institute an annual conference
NewsLaw
Sotheby's denied dismissal of Rybolovlev's $380m lawsuit by New York judge
Papers filed in a Manhattan court this week order a pre-trial conference and the release of confidential documents
NewsNazi loot
Berlin museums appeal to US Supreme Court in dispute over €200m Guelph Treasure
The case 'shouldn't be heard in a US court', argues the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation
NewsLaw
Artist's copyright infringement suit heads to US Supreme Court
North Carolina used film director’s images without obtaining his permission or compensating him
NewsCopyright
Bad guy? Billie Eilish video by Dave Meyers mirrors the work of artists Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari
The director seems to once again have borrowed from the work of visual artists, which has previously led to lawsuits against Kendrick Lamar and Ariana Grande
NewsState Russian Museum
State Russian Museum refurbishment cancelled amid protests
The renovation threatened the museum's architecture and collection, plaintiffs argued
NewsNazi loot
Court case over three Derain paintings will test France's promise to speed up Nazi-era claims
Grandchildren of art dealer René Gimpel accuse French culture ministry of blocking restitution of works hanging in state museums
NewsBuilding projects
Could a parking garage hold up Lacma’s new Zumthor building?
A local group has sued Los Angeles County over the plan’s environmental impact report
News
‘Portuguese Saatchi’ in hot water over alleged €1bn debt
Three Portuguese banks have filed a lawsuit to recover funds from Joe Berardo, whose vast collection on show in Lisbon is one of the most visited in Portugal
NewsArt market
More grief for Aristophil investors as French government seizes hundreds of documents
Around 18,000 people invested in the now bankrupted company's manuscripts collection, but state says many items of historical importance should never have been sold
NewsLaw
US Supreme Court declines to hear appeal on Nazi-looted art
Norton Simon Museum can keep two Lucas Cranach masterpieces
NewsLaw
Robert Indiana’s estate tries to prevent further reproductions of artist’s LOVE and HOPE works
Fresh claims made in court say licensing agreements with the Morgan Art Foundation and publisher Michael McKenzie ended when Indiana died a year ago
NewsKnoedler
Knoedler owner Michael Hammer may be liable for fraud over fakes, New York judge finds
The ruling was based on the loose business dealings of Hammer, the gallery and its parent company—like reimbursing him $2m for luxury cars
NewsPussy Riot
Pussy Riot member Veronika Nikulshina detained in Moscow on suspected drug charges
It is the second time in a month that the feminist activist has been arrested by police
NewsLaw
Wildenstein & Co sued for the 1985 sale of an alleged fake Bonnard painting
The collectors are seeking more than $300,000 in damages after the painting failed to be authenticated before heading to auction last year
NewsMonuments
Virginia judge rules that two Confederate statues in Charlottesville are war memorials
City Council members seeking to remove them argued that they were actually monuments to white supremacy
NewsRestitution
Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection can keep a painting that the Nazis stole, US judge rules
The judge says the work should have raised suspicions, but that he must apply Spanish law
NewsArt market
Artvest sells its stake in Tefaf New York just days before fair opens
Sale marks the end of legal battle over ownership between the US art investment firm and the non-profit Dutch fair group
NewsArt market
EU copyright crackdown is intended to protect artists, but might it damage their market instead?
New laws to stop copyrighted material from being uploaded to social media without permission could pose problems for those using sites like Instagram to sell art
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
Sam P. Israel