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Statute
California Statute - Civil Code § 988, Residual Rights
Citation
CAL. CIV. CODE § 988 (Deering 2007)
Summary
California Civil Code § 988 provides that whenever a conveyance of any right to reproduce, prepare derivative works based on, distribute copies of, or publicly display a work of art is made by the artist who created it or its owner at the time of conveyance, the artist or owner retains ownership of the physical work of art, unless such right is expressly transferred by the artist or the owner. Any ambiguity with respect to the nature or extent of rights conveyed by the artist or owner should generally be resolved in favor of the reservation of rights by the artist or owner.
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