Insights

Legal Fight over California’s Unique Art-Sales Law Nears Climax

December 17, 2014 – Media Mention
The Los Angeles Times

Barry Werbin was cited in a Los Angeles Times story on a federal appeal of a lawsuit to enforce California's Resale Royalty Act. The 1976 law gives artists who are American citizens or California residents a 5-percent royalty when a state collector or gallery sells their work on a secondary market. The story references an article that Barry wrote for Herrick's Art & Advocacy newsletter on the U.S. Copyright Office recommending a federal artist resale royalty. This change would put visual artists on the same footing as composers, playwrights and authors, who are paid every time their works are resold as a live performance, recording or book.