Artwork rights and design usage
I have a collection of t-shirt designs that use old pieces of artwork (e.j. Van Gogh's Starry Night and Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel) but the elements are manipulated in a fashionable way. The designs are unique but the artwork is base. Do I have the right to produce these t-shirts?
Re: Artwork rights and design usage
You asked about using artwork as the basis for a new product.
Copyright law allows for new uses of works on which the copyright has expired. If a work is still subject to copyright then the copyright owner must grant permission before any subsidiary work is marketed.
You should have your works cleared by an attorney that works specifically in copyright law.
Regards,
Roger
