Lawyers acting on behalf of Sir Paul McCartney have stepped in to prevent a series of his drawings from being sold at auction. It appears this is a case of work-for-hire, at least in the U.S. What does UK law say about commissioned artworks? If you know, let us know.

Via the BBC.

81-year-old Canadian artist and experimental filmmaker Michael Snow is suing Toronto developers and a Hollywood producer for $950,000 in damages after he was denied payment for an installation, which they argue was never officially commissioned. Snow is suing for breach of contract, misappropriation of personality, and unjust enrichment in reference to Tower of Film, a piece he had begun for the entrance to the new headquarters of the Toronto International Film Festival. According to the Toronto Star,

Snow claims the defendants entered into agreements with both Snow and the City of Toronto to produce a modern version of historic moving-picture technology — creating an artistic monument to film, the medium rapidly being replaced by digital technology.

Also via Artinfo.

According to a news report, a corporation.

The city of Louisville, Kentucky has been wondering lately who owns a public sculpture installed outside its Legal Arts Building nearly 30 years ago.

The sculpture piece, Truth and Justice, was originally thought lost but was eventually found. The problem now is not only deciding what to do with it, but determining the rightful owner.  Apparently the paperwork detailing ownership has been lost, and the only account remaining rests with a 1973, Courier-Journal article that reported the artist commissioned to create the sculpture by the Downtown Development Corporation — a former Jefferson County financial entity, and builder of the Legal Arts Building.

The Courier-Journal has a bit more here.