The answer to this question is no. No, just because you bought an original piece of art, it does not mean you have the right to make and sell prints of it. Just because you bought an original artwork it does not mean you own the copyright to that piece of art.
You own the artwork as you bought it online or at a gallery, and therefore yes you own the right to put it wherever you want and enjoy it. However, unless you had an agreement in writing from the artist, that when you bought the art you would also own the copyright to it, then no you don’t own the copyright to your artwork, that still belongs to the artist.
And if you do not own the copyright to your original artwork that you’ve just bought then you do not have the right to make prints of it and sell it.
You need the artist to sign over the copyright to you if you want to make and sell prints of the artwork that you just bought. And you need this in writing. When you bought your original piece of art, if you did not get the artist to sign over the copyright to you, then nope, you don’t have the right to sell prints of it, you do not own the copyright to it and therefore the artist can sue you.
Have an art copyright question?
Please leave a comment below or email: anouska@fineartreproductionstudio.com
