The Legal and Moral Rights of All Artists [Paperback]

Amelia Vetrone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 16, 2003

It may be said that the beauty of art comes from the struggle that is involved in creating it: struggle to hear the voice, struggle to understand the voice, struggle to express or articulate the voice, struggle to let others hear the voice, and struggle to protect what has been expressed. This book is about the last struggle-to legally protect what has been expressed by appreciating the struggle that has come before. The Legal and Moral Rights of All Artists is a clear, jargon-free explanation of the crucial concepts every artist needs to know, such as copyright, trademark, work-for-hire and other contract issues, as well as the all-important doctrine of moral rights. Drawing on the historical perspective of the artist as the core element of any created work, this book explains the protection available to artists, not only for their works but also for their vision, integrity, and reputation. Filled with anecdotes and practical advice, this book will be an important resource for everyone involved in the creative process.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Amelia V. Vetrone is an attorney in Los Angeles who has been an advocate for artists for 15 years. She has previously published articles in the areas of art, copyright and trademark in reference guides for lawyers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (November 16, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595296831
• ISBN-13: 978-0595296835
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,069,724 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > Law > Business > Entertainment

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST book for every musician, composer, writer and artist, December 24, 2003

By 

K. J. Curran "Pleased in Pasadena" (Pasadena, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Legal and Moral Rights of All Artists (Hardcover)

Even though in the United States artists have never gotten a fair deal from patrons, movie companies and record companies, over the past decade, the situation for artists of all stripes has grown increasingly grave. The appearance of sites such as Napster and Kazaa openly encourage the theft of intellectual properties in the form of free digital files sharing. Though proponents of illegal music downloading may hail this development as striking a blow for the common person and lashing back against the scandalous pricing strategies of record companies, et al, it is in fact just another way of ripping off artists. Piracy under any guise is a slap in the face of starving artists everywhere -- and a huge blow against the important concept of intellectual property.

Artist rights attorney Amelia V. Vetrone has managed to create a brilliant short book that somehow manages to provide a sweeping overview of the issues involved as well as providing specific anecdotes of how artists have been victimized and how they will eventually be compensated fairly. While most books that approach this subject matter may be dry and hard to read, Vetrone's The Legal and Moral Rights of All Artists is very easy to read and of so much value to any creative person that it should be a mandated text in all communications, arts and legal courses. It is simply the "Old Tom's Cabin" of this generation. It points to the virtual "slavery" and mistreatment artists have received in the past and provides hope for the future when the media entertainment companies -- tired of the growing number of scofflaws pirating their music and films -- will enforce all provisions of the Berne Treaty (that the U.S. has already signed) to protect not only the very future of arts and commerce, but their short-sighted interests.

I cannot commend this book highly enough. To every musician or composer, I say buy a copy of this book -- $14 per paperback and $23 for the hardback version -- for it will save you tens of thousands of dollars. To every writer, director, actor or composer -- get a copy of this book and apply its wisdom to get a better contract from the entertainment companies. To every painter or sculptor, this book is your life's blood -- get it and memorize it.

The very fact that Ms. Vetrone had this book with three different major publishers only to have media parent company lawyers kibosh all three prior times speaks volumes about its value. It is powerful and it is destined to change the way entertainment commerce is conducted in this country.

I wish I could have everyone read it -- it is quite simply the biggest and happiest surprise of 2003-2004.

It is without a doubt the best investment you'll ever make -- and to say that, I really mean you will profit by its insights and comprehensive information. The fact that it is such an easy read should make it a very popular book, indeed.

5.0 out of 5 stars great, June 20, 2010

By 

j. flowers "j. flowers" (so cal) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Legal and Moral Rights of All Artists (Paperback)

i received this book very propmtly and it is in perfect condition i am very pleased and can't wait to use it in my scriptwriting class