Manzoni and Indiana Legal Rulings Reshape Art Market Authenticity Rules

Recent rulings in Italy and the U.S. have reshaped the concepts of authorship, inheritance, and copyright within the art sector. In Italy, siblings Elena and Giuseppe Manzoni contested the attribution of certain works; while the Corte d'Appello di Milano supported moral rights, the Supreme Court of Italy issued ordinance n. 15821/2026 on 22 May, stating that incorrect attribution does not infringe on moral copyright, emphasizing rights related to artistic identity. Meanwhile, in the U.S., a Manhattan federal court determined on 23 April that Michael McKenzie had sold works without authorization, resulting in a $102.2 million judgment in favor of the Morgan Art Foundation. Additionally, the New York Times reported on 28 August that the Star of Hope Foundation had listed Robert Indiana's Odd Fellows residence for $1.4 million, contrary to his desire for it to be converted into a museum.