Indian Law and Cultural Property

Govt proposes amendments in Antiquities Act, 1972
STAFF WRITER Press Trust of India

New Delhi, Dec 9 (PTI) In order to prevent smuggling of cultural
property, the government has proposed amendments in the Antiquities and
Art Treasures Act, 1972, to make it more stringent for the purpose.

The Ministry of Culture is preparing a bill seeking amendments in the
1972 Act to make it more effective in dealing with illicit trafficking
of artifacts and antiquities in today's time, Parliament was informed
today.

"With the growth of international market of art and artifacts, the
global problem of the smuggling of antiquities has increased over the
years," Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V
Narayanasamy said.

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Anybody in the society willing to look into this and comment further?

Schiele -- still stolen? Ruling on Portrait of Wally (110 pages)

This is a story that has been in the making for decades and the litigation is now more than 10 yrs old. Read the recent Summary Judgment ruling on the ongoing case involving a Nazi-stolen Portrait of Wally by Schiele. http://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/cases/show.php?db=special&id=105

Think Tank at Whitney

Read the recent Observer article on the Whitney's new think tank on issues about restoring/replicating modern and contemporary art as it begins to decay and artists start using more ephemeral (and virtual) materials: http://www.observer.com/2009/culture/copy-wait-dont-whitney-ponders-problem-replication-modern-art.

Cardozo is looking to bring a guest speaker on this issue, stay tuned!