Dear creative Colleagues,

Because not every Artist can afford to register his/her artwork and pay for each piece, I have invested on this issue and now sharing the most economic and legal ways that would suit the majority. Caring for my fellow artists has motivated me to do so. Although, Being a fine Artist for many years, it took me long time to learn little as there is always more to learn. I had to read many books about copyright, consulted with my lawyer, who is specialist in copyright, called the copyright department and spoke to different ones and have gone through several experiences. Although, some people consider copying someone else's artwork is a compliment yet, this can be only applied on certain situations! For example, when the intention is to learn from, to hang on your own walls and to give it as a gift but, certainly is NOT to have it for sale.

Finally, I found out that registering a painting or an artwork sooner or later does not guarantee that will not be copied by someone else. However, should the case reaches the court, here are some of my tips:

1- Keeping any sketches, negatives or photographs, from which the idea of artwork was composed/created. These can provide evidence of copyright. On the negatives or photographs there are always dates.

2-Putting the negatives, photos and sketches in an envelope and mail it to your persona address with introduction letter "To whom it may concern" describing the artwork, write the date was created and finished. Do not rush to open the envelope, just because you saw your name and address on it. When a situation arises and you must take it to the court, the envelope must be opened by the Judge. This is considered as an authenticity of copyright and is inexpensive / affordable to all artists.

3-There are specialists in discovering the date of the canvas and the age of colors. Therefore, they will be able to know which artwork had been created first.

4-Artists used to write the date next to their signature on the artwork. From my experience, please do not do that anymore. The reason is that you are making it visible to those who are out there ready to copy your artwork. They simply can write older date. I usually write it on the back of the canvas with big unerasable marker.

5- Do not reveal the location from which you have taken your photographs. Yes, fraudsters are interested to know, then go to the same place and take almost same shots. But they will still copy your painting/artwork. Those group" we copy right we do not copy wrong" believe that having the photographs is enough to attest their copyright, WRONG!

6-While the artwork is in progress, please take photographs of each step. Keep them in a safe cabinet or mail them to yourself. Professional art investigators can recognize the logic progress of each piece of art and what result should come to!

Wish you the best

©Mona Youssef, Realist fine artist, Gallerist