First Line of Defense: Allworth Press’ Flagship Reference Revised to Address Legal Challenges Facing Today’s Visual Artists

New York, NY, September 16, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The highly-acclaimed reference that has opened doors to artists for over 30 years is now in its fifth edition. Legal Guide for the Visual Artist (Allworth Press, $29.95, 270 pages, Paperback, Sept. 2010, ISBN 978-1-58115-742-0) by Allworth Press publisher and widely recognized visual arts authority, Tad Crawford, is completely revised and updated to provide an in-depth view of the legal issues facing the visual artist today and to give practical legal guidance for any visual artist involved with creative work. Since Legal Guide was first published in 1978, more than 100,000 copies have been sold and the book is widely recognized as the premiere reference in its field.

“What I find remarkable in looking back to 1977 when I wrote the first edition of Legal Guide is how legal protections have expanded for artists and how technology has changed the way in which information, including the information contained in art, can be processed and disseminated to the public,” observes Crawford.

Among the many new topics covered are: the myriad developments in copyright (including online copyright registration procedures and use of art on the Internet); changes in laws protecting artists in artist-gallery relationships; the scope of First Amendment protections for graffiti art and the sale of art in public spaces; new cases dealing with art and privacy; a model contract for Web site design; and much more. The comprehensive coverage includes:
* copyrights * moral rights * contracts * licensing * sales (by artist, gallery, and agent) *special risks and protections for art and artists * book publishing * video and multimedia works * leases * taxation * estate planning * museums * collecting * grants, * how to find the best professional advisors and attorneys.

Legal Guide benefits a wide-range of artists as it is broad in scope and uses “visual artist” to include cartoonists, craftspeople graphic designers, illustrators, painters, photographers, printmakers, sculptors, and textile designers. It suggests basic strategies for negotiation, provides information to help with further action, contains sample legal forms and contracts, and describes how to locate artists’ groups and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts organizations.

“Legal Guide trains the artist to think in a new way. It alerts the artist to issues that are likely to trap the unwary. It opens doors to those who seek to better their business practices, increase their incomes, and protect their art,” says Crawford. “Artists should never feel intimidated, helpless, or victimized.”

In 1989, the third edition of the Legal Guide became the flagship publication for Allworth Press. Ten more titles followed in 1990, which offered information about marketing, promotion, pricing, copyright, contracts, health and safety, and much more. From these modest beginnings, Allworth Press today publishes between eighteen and twenty-one titles annually and continues to provide essential business information to creative professionals.

Tad Crawford, attorney, author, and Publisher for Allworth Press in New York City, served as Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for the Community of Artists, General Counsel for the Graphic Artists Guild, and legislative counsel for the Coalition of Visual Artists Organizations. He is the author or coauthor of more than a dozen books, including Business and Legal Forms for Illustrators, Business and Legal Forms for Fine Artists, Business and Legal Forms for Graphic Designers, Business and Legal Forms for Photographers, Starting Your Career as a Free Lance Photographer, and The Artist-Gallery Partnership. In addition to writing articles for magazines such as American Artist, Art in America, Art Workers News, The AIGA Journal, Communication Arts, and The Nation, he has appeared as a guest on television and radio programs such as Fox on Money; The O'Reilly Report; Good Day, Wake Up; and New York & Company. He lives in New York City.

Advanced Praise for Legal Guide for the Visual Artist
“Tad Crawford’s readable guide is filled with practical legal advice for visual artists, as well as insightful discussions of ethical issues. Immediately useful are the sample agreements and forms, explained in the context of common business practices in the art world and the environment of numerous state and federal laws.”—Alma Robinson, Executive Director, California Lawyers for the Arts

“When I started to represent photographers over 30 years ago, the first book that I bought was Tad Crawford’s Legal Guide for the Visual Artist. It was a great resource then, and it has only improved with each revision. If you work in the visual arts, or if you work with anyone who does, having a copy on your bookshelf is an absolute necessity.”—Victor S. Perlman, General Counsel & Managing Director, American Society of Media Photographers

“Crawford’s book has been used as the comprehensive art law text at the School of Visual Arts. I recommend it without reservation.”—David Rhodes, President, School of Visual Arts

Allworth Press publishes business and how to books for artists, graphic designers, photographers, and interior designers as well as for filmmakers, performing artists, and authors. In addition, Allworth Press also publishes legal and personal finance guides for the general public. Books from Allworth Press are distributed to the book trade by Random House ((800) 733-3000 for Eastern and Central accounts; (800) 669 -1536 for Western accounts) and can be found in better bookstores. Titles may also be ordered directly from the publisher by calling (800) 491-2808 or visiting www.allworth.com.

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