What is the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990?

The Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990 (VARA) is a federal law that provides limited rights to certain creators of original works of visual art. VARA gives authors of works of visual art the right to claim authorship of their work and to prevent the intentional distortion, mutilation, or other modification of the work that would be prejudicial to the artist’s honor or reputation. It also grants the artist the right to prevent the destruction of works of recognized stature. In South Dakota, VARA is applicable to certain works of visual art like paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, photographs, murals, and mixed media. It does not cover any works which are incorporated into a building, nor does it cover “useful articles” like clothing, furniture, or toys. VARA grants the artist several exclusive rights. An artist may claim authorship of her work, and has the right to prevent intentional distortion, mutilation, or modification of her work. The artist also has the right to prevent the destruction of his works of recognized stature, and to prevent the use of her name in the same or in a similar false manner. VARA is an important law that grants certain rights to artists. It grants them the right to protect their works and their honor or reputation, and gives them the power to object to any intentional distortion, mutilation, or modification of their work. It also helps to protect works of recognized stature from destruction, and provides the artist with the right to claim authorship and control the use of her name.

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What is the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990?

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