To do this, they must recognize that photographs are authentic

Last week all the news agencies reported that 65 negatives of the famous photographer Ansel Adams (Ansel Adams), who bought at garage sale American painter Rick Norsidzhyan (Rick Norsigian), recognized as authentic and are estimated to be worth in excess of 200 million dollars . "That lucky man", probably many people think, given the fact that the negatives have cost the owner of only 45 dollars. But all is not so simple: the proceeds from their sale funds can get all the heirs of the author. To do this they must agree with the opinion of experts who claim that the work authentic. True, they do it categorically refused, and, moreover, seek to prevent the transaction.

Norsidzhyan already trades made from negatives of photographs on its website. It requires 7,500 dollars for a photograph, printed manual, 1500 for the digital copy and 45 for the poster. It says a Los Angeles attorney, Lawrence Iser (Lawrence Iser), dealing with copyright, mere possession of the reproduced object (in this case negative) does not give the holder the right to make copies and sell them. To do this he must get permission from the author or his heirs. Last retain copyrights for 70 years after his death. Adams passed away in 1984, so that copyright will last until 2054 th.

Counsel Norsidzhyana Peter Arnold (Arnold Peter) sees the situation differently. According to him, the copyright has expired no later than in 2000, after 70 years after the creation of artworks.

Heirs Adams could stop the sale on the grounds that they have a right to the name of the artist. They have the authority to prohibit the use of the name for commercial purposes. Grandson of the photographer Matthew Adams (Matthew Adams), occupying the presidency Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite National Park, said that they are looking for ways to resolve conflict "by legal means. The heirs, though not in a hurry Norsidzhyana accused of copyright infringement, because it requires formal recognition of the true negatives.

«We think that these negatives are not the works of Adams, and we do not want give a moral victory for those who distribute such a lie, - says Matthew Adams. - We do not want to "complement" dubious legacy of the artist works. In addition, if we [confirm the authenticity of works], we are flooded with hundreds if not thousands of negatives, [whose owners consider] their original creations Ansel Adams ».

Material prepared Julia Maximova, AI

Sources: latimesblogs.latimes.com /culturemonster , artinvestment.ru