Andy Warhol estate loses US supreme court copyright fight over Prince paintings – 2016

Who is Andy Warhol?

The Andy Warhol pop art estate has suffered a major setback in its long-running copyright battle against celebrity photographer Lynn Goldsmith. The US Supreme Court has ruled against the late artist’s estate, stating that Warhol’s Orange Prince series of paintings were not transformative enough to be considered fair use.

The case dates back to 2016, when Goldsmith filed a lawsuit against the Warhol estate, claiming that the artist had infringed her copyright by using one of her photographs of Prince as the basis for his series of silkscreen prints. Warhol had initially obtained a license to use the photograph from Vanity Fair, but Goldsmith argued that this did not give him the right to create derivative works based on her original image.

The case dates back to 2016

The case has been closely watched by copyright experts, as it raises important questions about the limits of fair use in the art world. Warhol’s defenders argued that his use of Goldsmith’s photograph was transformative, as he had altered the image significantly by cropping it, changing the color scheme, and adding his signature pop art style.

However, the US Supreme Court disagreed, stating that Warhol’s Orange Prince series did not significantly alter the original photograph in a way that would make it a new work of art. The US Supreme court decision is a blow to the Warhol estate, which had hoped to establish a broader definition of fair use that would protect artists who use existing images as source material.

Goldsmith, who has photographed many famous musicians and celebrities over the course of her career, has been a vocal advocate for photographers’ rights in the digital age. She has argued that artists should not be able to use other people’s copyrighted images without permission, even if they claim to be creating something new.

The US Supreme court decision

The US Supreme Court’s ruling is a victory for Goldsmith and other photographers who have fought to protect their intellectual property rights. It is also a reminder that even famous artists like Warhol are not above the law when it comes to copyright infringement. As the art world continues to grapple with the challenges of digital reproduction and the internet, this case serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of respecting the rights of creators and their original works.