After an Eight-Year Legal Battle, Facebook Ends Its Dispute With a French School Teacher Who Posted Courbet’s ‘Origin of the World’

Law & Politics

After an Eight-Year Legal Battle, Facebook Ends Its Dispute With a French School Teacher Who Posted Courbet’s ‘Origin of the World’

Both parties will make a donation to a French street art group as part of the resolution.

By Sarah Cascone, Aug 5, 2019

Law & Politics

Three Munich Museums Restitute 9 Nazi-Looted Artworks to the Heirs of Jewish Collectors

The artworks ended up in Munich's museums before new research revealed their true history.

By Kate Brown, Aug 5, 2019

Law & Politics

A Christie’s-Owned Tech Company Must Pay Heritage Auctions $1.8 Million for Data Theft, a Court Rules

But with a judge dismissing the majority of Heritage's claims, both sides are claiming victory.

By Sarah Cascone, Jul 31, 2019

Law & Politics

Who’s in the Mysterious Consortium That Owns a Supposed Younger Version of the ‘Mona Lisa’? A New Lawsuit Aims to Find Out

The 'Isleworth Mona Lisa' is highly scutinized both for its authorship, which some contest, and for its ownership, revealed in the Panama Papers.

By Sarah Cascone, Jul 31, 2019

Law & Politics

London Art Dealer Joseph Nahmad, Scion of a Powerful Collecting Family, Pleads Guilty to Assaulting His Girlfriend

The dealer comes from one of the world's most prominent art dynasties and runs Nahmad Projects in London.

By Rachel Corbett, Jul 31, 2019

Law & Politics

A Street Artist Is Suing Walmart and Ellen DeGeneres for Allegedly Stealing His Signature Heart Logo

A clothing line released by the company this year prominently features a design that looks suspiciously similar to the artist’s own.

By Taylor Dafoe, Jul 31, 2019

Law & Politics

Portuguese Authorities Seize Blue-Chip Artworks From Slippery Mega-Collector José Berardo to Pay Down His $1 Billion in Debt

The billionaire put the valuable trove up as collateral for loans.

By Naomi Rea, Jul 31, 2019

Law & Politics

A Burglary Ring Used Social Media to Target Wealthy Art Collectors. Should You Think Twice Before Posting Your Picasso?

In the wake of a bust of a Houston crime ring, a security expert explains how to avoid making yourself a target.

By Sarah Cascone, Jul 30, 2019

Law & Politics

‘He Had Lying, Scamming, and Stealing Down to a Fine Art’: Disgraced Dealer Timothy Sammons Is Sentenced to 4 to 12 Years in Prison

Sammons pleaded guilty to grand larceny and fraud that bilked his victims out of $10 million to $30 million.

By Eileen Kinsella, Jul 30, 2019

Law & Politics

The Portland Museum of Art Wins Its $4.6 Million Lawsuit Against a Caretaker Accused of Coercing an Elderly Donor Into Changing Her Will

The elderly woman signed over her estate to her caregiver—rather than the museum and her family—shortly before she died.

By Sarah Cascone, Jul 23, 2019

Law & Politics

A Lawyer Allegedly Convinced His Elderly Client to Sell Him a Brancusi for a Pittance. Now, the Collector Is Suing Him for $200 Million

Stuart Pivar claims he was duped into selling a Brancusi bronze for far below market value.

By Sarah Cascone, Jul 18, 2019

Law & Politics

Ai Weiwei Wins a Legal Battle With Volkswagen Over an Ad That Featured His Refugee-Themed Art Installation Without Permission

The artist will receive $260,000 from the company.

By Javier Pes, Jul 17, 2019

Price Database

Law & Politics