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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 3221 (100th)

Visual Artists Rights Act of 1987

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

7 August 1987

Last action

4 October 1988 · Committee

Status

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).

Sponsors

Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4], Rep. Downey, Thomas J. [D-NY-2], Rep. Atkins, Chester G. [D-MA-5], Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA], Rep. Collins, Cardiss [D-IL-7], Rep. Dellums, Ronald V. [D-CA-9], Del. Fauntroy, Walter E. [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-NY-18], Rep. Hochbrueckner, George J. [D-NY-1], Rep. Jacobs, Andrew, Jr. [D-IN-10], Rep. Lancaster, H. Martin [D-NC-3], Rep. Lantos, Tom [D-CA-12], Rep. Lipinski, William O. [D-IL-3], Rep. McMillen, Thomas [D-MD-4], Rep. Mrazek, Robert J. [D-NY-3], Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8], Rep. Owens, Major R. [D-NY-11], Rep. Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA-11], Rep. Stokes, Louis [D-OH-11], Rep. Studds, Gerry E. [D-MA-10], Rep. Weiss, Ted [D-NY-17], Rep. Wilson, Charles [D-TX-2], Del. Blaz, Ben G. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. Lowry, Mike [D-WA-7], Rep. Moakley, John Joseph [D-MA-9], Rep. Moody, Jim [D-WI-5], Rep. Richardson, Bill [D-NM-3], Rep. Shays, Christopher [R-CT-4]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

28 August 2025

Summary

Visual Artists Rights Act of 1987 - Amends the copyright law to give the author of a pictorial, graphic, or sculptural work (or the author's estate) the right to claim authorship of such work when publicly displayed, independent of his or her copyright, and to disclaim such authorship of such work because of any distortions. Grants the author of a work the exclusive right to assert infringement of copyright when such work is significantly distorted, mutilated, or altered by an intentional act or gross negligence. Entitles the author of a work to a royalty whenever such work is resold. Limits the entitlement to such resale royalty according to the amounts and percentage of resale price paid. Requires artists seeking resale royalties to register with the Copyright Office. Requires that all sales or transfers of works by registered artists be registered with the Office. Waives artists' rights when a work cannot be removed from a building without distortion, mutilation, or alteration.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 7 August 1987

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 7 August 1987

    Introduced

    Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 7 August 1987

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 18 August 1987

    Referred

    Referred to Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties, and the Administration of Justice.

    Source: Committee

  5. 9 June 1988

    Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Source: Committee

  6. 4 October 1988

    Committee

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).

    Source: Committee

  7. 4 October 1988

    Committee

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

1 official file

Leesvertaling

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Sponsors

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Sources

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