Visual Artwork in Film and Television

On the Art Licensing Blog, artist Paul Brent tells the story of how his artwork made an appearance on this week’s episode of Hawaii Five-O.

In his interview with Tara Reed, Paul wonders whether video production companies must ask artists permission for the use of their artwork. The answer is yes! The Copyright Act protects visual artwork just as it protects songs, films, books, and other creative materials.

Production companies that use artwork in a production without the artist’s permission can certainly be sued for copyright infringement (if the use does not qualify as a fair use). One of the best known cases is contemporary artist Faith Ringgold who sued after a poster of her Church Picnic Story Quilt appeared as part of the set decoration in an episode of the sitcom Roc. Even though the poster appeared for a total of less than thirty seconds, the court said it wasn’t a fair use. The parties ultimately settled without a trial.