artwork and auction

Hello Legal Lions-

I'm hoping some of you can shed light on my situation. I am a watercolorist. Recently I did a watercolor (which is being considered as cover art for a national magazine; they would have one-time use of only). I decided to have giclee prints made from this piece. I had sold the watercolor with the understanding that I retain copyright and be allowed to take it to Rochester so prints could be made of it. When the print house shipped the original back (disgracefully packed) though insured for the purchase price, it was bent in half, breaking the fibers of the watercolor paper.

The buyer of the watercolor, understandably wanted his money back. I placed a claim with USPS. They tell me I must surrender the original to be auctioned if they pay the claim.

In this situation, what kind of guarantee do I have that the purchaser will honor the copyright? In the past, anything I've produced which I felt important to maintain copyright I've only sold to individuals who are collectors and I know will honor our agreement and not take prints.

Hope you can give me so insight. Thanks.

Pat

Pat Turcotte-Equestrian Portraiture & Illustration http://www.equisearch.com/turcotte/turcotte.html <pst[_at_]madbbs.com> Received on Thu Aug 19 1999 - 13:09:59 GMT