Copyright laws

[Melaniemail]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

Texas

My husband is an artist with gallery representation. Are there any copyright laws that would hinder him from painting scenes from classic films in an abstract way?

 

[FlyingRon]

It would be considered a derivative work. It could very much end up in court. The fair use aspects of this are not clear. A recent legal bruhaha on a similar lines was the AP/Fairey battle over the Obama "HOPE" posters. Unfortunately, the parties settled so there's no legal precedent there, but the Judge involved strongly intimated that AP (the original copyright assignee) would prevail.