droit de suite
C2Legal/Art Market Specialised
Definition
Meaning
An artist's legal right to receive a percentage of the sale price when their work is resold.
A royalty right in copyright law granting creators a share in the economic success of their original work in subsequent commercial transactions.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A term of art from French civil law, now part of international copyright frameworks. It applies specifically to original works of art and manuscripts, not reproductions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The UK implemented the right via EU directive (now retained UK law). The US generally does not recognize droit de suite at federal level, though California has a limited Resale Royalties Act.
Connotations
In the UK/EU, it's seen as a moral/economic right for artists. In the US, it's often viewed as a market interference, with debate over its impact on art trade.
Frequency
Common in UK/EU art law and auction house terms; rare in general US legal discourse except in international art transactions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Artist] holds/is entitled to droit de suite on [artwork].[Sale] triggers droit de suite payments to [artist/estate].[Law] implements/provides for droit de suite.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to follow the sale (literal translation nuance)”
- “a right that follows the work”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Auction house conditions of sale detail droit de suite obligations for qualifying works.
Academic
The harmonisation of droit de suite across the EU aimed to balance artist welfare with single market functionality.
Everyday
Very rarely used in everyday conversation outside professional art circles.
Technical
Droit de suite is inalienable, cannot be waived in advance, and is calculated on the hammer price exceeding certain thresholds.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The estate can now claim droit de suite on resales of his early sketches.
American English
- U.S. law generally does not allow artists to droit de suite their works after the initial sale.
adjective
British English
- The droit de suite provisions were extended to deceased artists' heirs.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- N/A - Not applicable for this level.
- N/A - Highly specialised term.
- Some artists receive extra money when their art is sold again. This is called droit de suite.
- The gallery informed the buyer that a droit de suite payment would be due to the living artist if the sculpture were resold at auction within the EU.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'right of following' – the artist's right FOLLOWS the artwork to its next sale.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE ARTIST IS A PERPETUAL STAKEHOLDER IN THEIR CREATION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend: 'suite' is not 'сюита' (musical composition).
- Direct translation 'право следования' is the correct legal term in Russian.
- Do not confuse with 'право требования' (right of claim) – it's more specific.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing 'suite' as '/sjuːt/' (like hotel suite).
- Using it for performers or musicians (it's primarily for visual artists).
- Assuming it applies to the first sale (it applies to subsequent resales).
Practice
Quiz
In which jurisdiction is 'droit de suite' most firmly established?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's a distinct, specific right related to resales, whereas copyright controls reproduction, distribution, etc.
Typically the seller is liable, but the buyer, auctioneer, or art market professional may be jointly liable, depending on the jurisdiction.
No, it usually applies to original works of graphic art, painting, sculpture, and manuscripts. Photographs may be included. It often has a minimum sale price threshold.
No, it is generally an inalienable personal right. It cannot be waived in advance of a sale, though it may be transferred to heirs on the artist's death.