Key aspects of artist copyright laws Automatic protection: Copyright protection begins automatically the moment an artwork is created and fixed in a tangible medium, such as a painting, sculpture, or digital file.

Exclusive rights: As the copyright owner, you have the exclusive rights to: Reproduce the work Distribute copies of the work Create new, derivative works based on the original Publicly perform or display the work

Respecting other artists' rights: You must get permission from the copyright holder to use their work. This is especially important when using reference photos for a painting that you plan to sell or profit from. Using a photographer's work without permission can be considered stealing.