Expanding Art Markets: Prints, Certificates of Authenticity, and Art Licensing By Brooke Oliver, Esq. WHAT CONSTITUTES AN “ORIGINAL” PRINT?.....................................................................................................4 WHY ARE CERTIFICATES OF AUTHENTICITY NEEDED?..................................................................................5 STATE LAW ABOUT CERTIFICATES OF AUTHENTICITY..................................................................................5 CALIFORNIA LAW .............................................................................................................................................................5 What information is required on the California Certificate?......................................................................................6 Related Notices under California Law........................................................................................................................7 A Certificate of Authenticity is an Express Warranty .................................................................................................8 Remedies for Violation: Damages and Injunctive Relief ............................................................................................8 NEW YORK LAW...............................................................................................................................................................9 Information Required on the New York Certificate.....................................................................................................9 Related Notices under New York Law.........................................................................................................................9 Express Warranties...................................................................................................................................................10 DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES BETWEEN STATE PRINT DISCLOSURE STATUTES .......................................................10 A NOTE ON ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION & NOTICES ................................................................................................11 TERMINOLOGY ON CERTIFICATES OF AUTHENTICITY: PROCESSES, EDITIONS, NUMBERING, & PROOFS.....................................................................................................................................................................11 PRINT-MAKING PROCESSES.....................................................................................................................................12 PRINT MAKING TECHNIQUES THAT CONSTITUTE ART MAKING IN ITS PRIMARY FORM......................................................12 Collagraphs...............................................................................................................................................................12 Intaglio Prints ...........................................................................................................................................................12 Acid-Created Intaglio Prints ................................................................................................................................................... 12 Etching............................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Aquatint ............................................................................................................................................................................. 12 Embossing ......................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Tool-Created Intaglio Prints.................................................................................................................................................... 13 Engraving .......................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Drypoint............................................................................................................................................................................. 13 Mezzotint........................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Lithographs...............................................................................................................................................................13 Relief Prints ..............................................................................................................................................................13 Woodcut.................................................................................................................................................................................. 14 Wood Engraving ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Linoleum................................................................................................................................................................................. 14 Screen Prints and Serigraphs....................................................................................................................................14 PRINTS THAT ARE REPRODUCTIONS OF ORIGINAL WORKS CREATED IN ANOTHER MEDIUM..............................................14 Photomechanical Reproductions ..............................................................................................................................14 Giclée Prints (A Digital Ink-jet process)...................................................................................................................15 The Misidentified Giclée or Iris Print ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Authenticity and Giclée Prints; New Techniques.................................................................................................................... 16 POSTHUMOUS PRINTS .....................................................................................................................................................17 EDITION SIZE, SIGNING AND NUMBERING, & CHOP MARKS ........................................................................17 EDITION SIZE..................................................................................................................................................................17 EDITION SIGNING AND NUMBERING ...............................................................................................................................17 CHOP MARKS, TRADEMARKS, & COPYRIGHT NOTICES .................................................................................................18 PROOFS............................................................................................................................................................................19 ARTIST’S PROOF .............................................................................................................................................................19 BON A TIRER PROOF .......................................................................................................................................................19 CANCELLATION PROOF...................................................................................................................................................19 HORS DE COMMERCE......................................................................................................................................................19 PRESENTATION PROOF....................................................................................................................................................19 PRINTER’S PROOF ...........................................................................................................................................................19 PROGRESSIVE PROOFS ....................................................................................................................................................19 RESTRIKE .......................................................................................................................................................................20 STATE PROOFS................................................................................................................................................................20 TRIAL PROOF..................................................................................................................................................................20 A WORD ABOUT COMPLIANCE WITH PRINT DISCLOSURE LAWS...............................................................20 LICENSING BASICS ......................................................................................................................................................20 WHAT IS LICENSING?......................................................................................................................................................20 Copyrights.................................................................................................................................................................21