Protecting Creativity and Research through Fair Use. An Art Historian’s Reflections on the Unsustainable Costs of Image Reproduction Fees
Silvia Bottinelli
This text reflects upon the complexities of image copyright laws and their implications for the art community. I highlight the double-sided effects of such laws on the protection of author’s rights. On the one hand, copyright provides authors with monetary recognition of their work. On the other hand, it limits the circulation of such work and its opportunity to generate new discourse. The absence of shared international policies and the high costs of image reproduction rights can compromise the quality of art historical research and affect the very existence of art history as we know it.