In a dramatic conclusion to a long-standing legal battle, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts (AWF) has agreed to pay photographer Lynn Goldsmith approximately $21,500 to settle a contentious dispute that escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court. The apex court’s landmark ruling last year, rejecting Warhol’s claim of fair use concerning his silkscreens of music legend Prince, based on Goldsmith’s original photograph, sets a new precedent in copyright law.
Resolution Reached in Manhattan Federal Court
In a filing on Monday in Manhattan federal court, it was revealed that AWF will compensate Goldsmith with $10,250, reflecting a 2016 license agreement with Condé Nast, which utilized a Warhol silkscreen titled “Orange Prince” for a magazine cover following the musician’s demise. Additionally, AWF will cover Goldsmith’s taxable costs, totaling $11,272.94. However, attorney fees and other expenses remain the responsibility of each party.
Warhol Foundation Pays $21K to Resolve Prince Photo Case : Landmark Ruling Shifts Legal Landscape
The legal saga began when AWF initiated legal action against Goldsmith, seeking a declaratory judgment that Warhol’s silkscreens did not violate Goldsmith’s copyright of a Prince portrait, citing transformative art. However, the Supreme Court, in a decisive 7-2 ruling last May, determined that the “Orange Prince” silkscreen failed to qualify for fair use protection, as it served a similar commercial purpose as the original photograph.
