Re: Fine Art Reproductions

On Sun, April 11, 1999, Amalyah Keshet <akeshet[_at_]imj.org.il> wrote:
>
> This is the information I received from the Warhol Foundation regarding
> Andy Warhol and Campbell's Soup, as promised.
>
> --------------------
>
> > Andy Warhol did not originally seek permission from Campbell Soup
> > Company to paint their soup cans. He apparently did not run into
> > problems with the company who saw his usage as amusing and the
> > freedom of expression.
> >
> > It was only after Warhol's death, when the Andy Warhol Foundation
> > began making licensing agreements with various manufacturers to
> > use Warhol's imagery on products, that there was an official legal
> > agreement between the Andy Warhol Foundation and Campbell Soup
> > Company. Presently, both parties own a stake in the copyright and
> > neither party can make licensing agreements without the other
> > party's permission. Happily, we have a good relationship with them
> > and are involved in various licensing deals with them covering a
> > wide range of products.
> >
> > So, to answer your question, while he was alive, Warhol did retain
> > the copyright to his own artworks but never addressed the issue
> > himself as far as Campbell Soup Company was concerned.

Thanks to Ms Keshet for sharing the Warhol Foundation's account of its relationship with Campbell's Soup. It answers a question that often comes up in my trademark class. I, for one, would be equally interested in knowing whether there is a similar relationship with the Estate of Marilyn Monroe, and whether Mr. Warhol sought permission to use Marilyn's image when he did his famous series on her.

Bob Cumbow
206-340-9619
rcumbow[_at_]grahamdunn.com Received on Mon Apr 12 1999 - 16:05:06 GMT