Auction House Licensing Scheme
If your auction house uses images of artwork in catalogues or promotional materials, you need permission from the artist.
Why licensing matters
When works are sold on the secondary market, auction houses must seek permission to reproduce images in catalogues, advertising, and other promotional materials. The artist retains image rights, and our scheme ensures this process complies with copyright law while providing fair compensation.
How it works
Licensed auction houses pay a fee when using an artist’s work in promotional materials. We collect these fees and distribute them to artists, less an administration charge.
This aligns Aotearoa New Zealand with over 80 agencies in 60+ countries, including Australia, Canada, the USA, and most of Europe.
Current licensed auction houses
- Art+Object
- International Art Centre
- Webb’s
- Dunbar Sloane
These auction houses are ensuring artists are remunerated fairly for secondary market sales.
For artists
If you’re an artist, learn how to register for the Auction House Licensing scheme.
