Section § 1740

Explanation

This section defines terms related to fine art multiples like prints, photographs, and sculptures that are created in more than one copy. It explains what qualifies as 'fine art multiples' and describes them using terms like 'print', 'master', 'signed or unsigned', 'impression', 'art dealer', 'limited edition', 'proofs', and 'certificate of authenticity'. It outlines what each term means, such as a 'master' being the template used to create multiples or an 'art dealer' being someone who sells these art pieces. It also clarifies the concept of 'limited editions' with maximum productions and 'proofs' as extras outside the limited edition.

As used in this title:
(a)CA Civil Law Code § 1740(a) “Fine art multiple” or “multiple” for the purposes of this title means any fine print, photograph (positive or negative), sculpture cast, collage, or similar art object produced in more than one copy. Pages or sheets taken from books and magazines and offered for sale or sold as art objects shall be included, but books and magazines shall be excluded.
(b)CA Civil Law Code § 1740(b) “Fine print” or “print” means a multiple produced by, but not limited to, engraving, etching, woodcutting, lithography, and serigraphy, and means multiples produced or developed from photographic negatives, or any combination thereof.
(c)CA Civil Law Code § 1740(c) “Master” is used in lieu of and has the same meaning as a printing plate, stone, block, screen, photographic negative, or mold or other process as to a sculpture, which contains an image used to produce fine art objects in multiples.
(d)CA Civil Law Code § 1740(d) “Artist” means the person who created the image which is contained in, or constitutes, the master or conceived of, and approved the image which is contained in, or constitutes, the master.
(e)CA Civil Law Code § 1740(e) Whether a multiple is “signed” or “unsigned” as these terms are used in this title relating to prints and photographs, depends upon whether or not the multiple was autographed by the artist’s own hand, and not by mechanical means, after the multiple was produced, irrespective of whether it was signed or unsigned in the plate.
(f)CA Civil Law Code § 1740(f) “Impression” means each individual fine art multiple made by printing, stamping, casting, or any other process.
(g)CA Civil Law Code § 1740(g) “Art dealer” means a person who is in the business of dealing, exclusively or nonexclusively, in the fine art multiples to which this title is applicable, or a person who by his or her occupation holds himself or herself out as having knowledge or skill peculiar to these works, or to whom that knowledge or skill may be attributed by his or her employment of an agent or other intermediary who by his or her occupation holds himself or herself out as having that knowledge or skill. The term “art dealer” includes an auctioneer who sells these works at public auction, but excludes persons, not otherwise defined or treated as art dealers herein, who are consignors or principals of auctioneers.
(h)CA Civil Law Code § 1740(h) “Limited edition” means fine art multiples produced from a master, all of which are the same image and bear numbers or other markings to denote the limited production thereof to a stated maximum number of multiples, or are otherwise held out as limited to a maximum number of multiples.
(i)CA Civil Law Code § 1740(i) “Proofs” means multiples which are the same as, and which are produced from the same master as, the multiples in a limited edition, but which, whether so designated or not, are set aside from and are in addition to the limited edition to which they relate.
(j)CA Civil Law Code § 1740(j) “Certificate of authenticity” means a written or printed description of the multiple which is to be sold, exchanged, or consigned by an art dealer. Every certificate shall contain the following statement:
“This is to certify that all information and the statements contained herein are true and correct.”
(k)CA Civil Law Code § 1740(k) “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, or other entity, however organized.

Section § 1741

Explanation

This law applies when artworks made in multiple editions are sold, either at wholesale or retail, for $100 or more, not counting the cost of a frame.

This title shall apply to any fine art multiple when offered for sale or sold at wholesale or retail for one hundred dollars ($100) or more, exclusive of any frame.