Copyright.
from the:-
DESIGNS AND PATENTS BILL, 1988.
Except in the case of portraits the copyright of any work of art remains with the artist, even if he or she has been commissioned to produce the work of art for somebody else. An 'artistic work' means:
a) A graphic work, painting, drawing, diagram, map, plan, photograph or sculpture, irrespective of artistic quality.
b) A work of architecture, being a building or model for a building.
c) A work of artistic craftsmanship.
Copyright in an artistic work expires at the end of fifty years from the end of the calender year in which it's creator dies.
Infringement of Copyright.
Copyright does not protect ideas as such, or even styles. It applies only to a finished work of art, and the sketches connected to its creation. Nor does it cover work produced 'after' others. To infringe copyright they have to be direct imitations. In the case of infringement of copyright (e.g. if one of your works is reproduced without your permission in a paper, advertisement, greeting card etc.) the editor, manager, printer and publisher are all liable.
The creator to any work of art can 'object to any modification which is pre-judicial to his honour or reputation'. This is obviously of importance in cases where the person or body which has commissioned a work wishes to alter it to conform with their own ideas. The Copyright law forbids affixing another persons name on a work which is not his or hers; to publish or sell an altered artistic work or reproduction of such a work as if it was unaltered; or to publish, sell or distribute reproductions by the artist knowing this is not the case.
Anybody whose copyright is infringed can obtain an injunction against the repat of the offence; claim damages for infringement based on the evidence of loss suffered by the artist; or upon a claim for the conversion which relates to the value of the offending work. An alternative remedy is to seek an acount of profits which is the standard by which damages are assessed. The plaintiff is entitled to these even when the defendant's ignorance of the existence of copyright in the work is proved or admitted.
Copyright is a 'property' which he or she can sell in addition to the actual work of art. It would be perhaps in-judicious to charge for reproduction of one of your works which might bring you welcomed publicity, although if you don't agree with the accompanying comment you might well decide to claim your copyright fee!
