The Deskbook of
Art Law

by Leonard DuBoff, Christy King and Michael Murray

2nd Edition, Oceana Publications (1993)
Continuously Updated

The Deskbook of Art Law is the most complete resource available for legal matters relating specifically to transacting business in the art world. It offers commentary on the purchase, protection and preservation of fine and applied art.

Step-by-step instructions on legal and financial issues

*Allegations of forgery
*Stolen art
*Questions of title
*Misattribution
*Misrepresentations
*Liens
*Joint ownership
*Tax shelters and deductions
*Reproduction rights
*Copyrights and trademarks
*Authentication
*Artists’ rights to express
*Critics’ rights to criticize
*Libel
*Slander
*Fraud
*Insurance contracts and claims
*Customs procedure

The presentation is organized to educate museum directors and curators collection managers, artists, collectors, and their counsel in the effort to prevent misunderstandings and to promote the preservation of works of art and the expansion of public interest in art through successful sale, display, and philanthropy or governmental funding.

This two-volume work addresses the various definitions of art, including both “fine art” and “applied art,” and recognizes the effect that the established definitions have on laws, regulations, and endorsements.

This insightful work can help you guard against seizure, loss, prosecution, and embarrassment by ensuring the strength of contracts, the validity of claims, and the ownership of rights. (from the publisher)

Praise for the first edition:

"The Deskbook has a deserved reputation as a good resource for materials presenting the artist's perspective. This makes The Deskbook a significant resource for artists, law professors and law students, for attorneys who represent artists, and for those dealers, collectors, museums and other institutions - and those who represent them - who recognize the long-term benefits to the arts community of respecting artists' rights."
Judith L. Teichman, Asian Art Museum