Some of this may be deliberate – in the case of collage, for example – or it may be a subconscious act of the artist, but in either case the appropriation of artwork created by a third party may expose the artist to an action for copyright infringement or, even worse, prosecution for forgery.

Artists are not the only ones who may wish to copy art works, as public art galleries are now keen to use images of the works in their collections to make extra income – such as using reproductions on postcards or other merchandise.

The articles in this section focus on:

• What works can be copied, and under what circumstances
• Appropriation of images in new works of art
• Reproductions made by art galleries – the Publication Right
• Forgery

• appropriation
• copyright