System and method for acquisition, registration, and authentication of works of art and the like

A method of registration and authentication of an artwork;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• establishing a registry for maintaining documents identifying artworks and their provenance, maximum limits as to copies of each said artwork to be produced, and a chain of possession for each said artwork;
• filing an application for registration of a said artwork with said registry by an artist, said application comprising proof of provenance of said artwork, proof of exclusive control of duplication rights in said artwork, legally binding maximum limits of copies of said artwork to be produced, and agreement by said artist to be bound by said maximum duplication limits;
• registering said artwork with said registry, said registration comprising maintaining information as to said provenance of said artwork, said possession of said registered artwork, and said maximum limits of said copies of said artwork to be produced;
• providing said artist with a binding transfer contract for transferring possession of said registered artwork to a collector, said transfer contract including a license from said artist to said collector and subsequent collectors binding said artist to a maximum copy limit of said artwork, and said transfer contract requiring that any said collector receiving said registered artwork to register said artwork with said registry;
• placing notice of said license proximate said artwork;
• recording each said collector in said registry as holder of a said artwork upon receipt of a completed said transfer contract indicating a complete chain of possession for said artwork;
• and
• maintaining said documents by said registry to establish a chain of possession and exclusivity for each said registered artwork for confirming said artwork is authentic, upon acquisition of said artwork by a said collector.

A method of registration and authentication of an artwork;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• establishing a registry for maintaining documents identifying artworks and their provenance, maximum limits as to copies of each said artwork to be produced, and a chain of possession for each said artwork;
• filing an application for registration of a said artwork with said registry by an artist, said application comprising proof of provenance of said artwork, proof of exclusive control of duplication rights in said artwork, legally binding maximum limits of copies of said artwork to be produced, and agreement by said artist to be bound by said maximum duplication limits;
• registering said artwork with said registry, said registration comprising maintaining information as to said provenance of said artwork, said possession of said registered artwork, and said maximum limits of said copies of said artwork to be produced;
• providing said artist with a binding transfer contract for transferring possession of said registered artwork to a collector, said transfer contract including a license from said artist to said collector and subsequent collectors binding said artist to a maximum copy limit of said artwork excluding reproductions, and said transfer contract requiring that any said collector receiving said registered artwork to register said artwork with said registry;
• placing notice of said license proximate said artwork;
• recording each said collector in said registry as holder of a said artwork upon receipt of a completed said transfer contract indicating a complete chain of possession for said artwork;
• and
• maintaining said documents by said registry to establish a chain of possession and exclusivity for each said registered artwork for confirming said artwork is authentic, upon acquisition of said artwork by a said collector.