SIAE Image Fees Cripple Art Journalism: Morandi Review Published Without Artwork Photos

Artribune published a review of the Giorgio Morandi retrospective at Palazzo Reale in Milan without any images of the artworks or installation views, due to SIAE's strict licensing policies. The only permitted photos showed visitors' backs facing didactic panels. SIAE (OLAF section) charges high fees for image reproduction—around €500 + VAT for ten Morandi photos for one year, with a 100% surcharge for homepage use and 12% per social network—and requires requests 30–60 days before publication. Press offices are forbidden from pre-paying for a package of images for journalists. A similar situation occurred with the Picasso retrospective at Galleria Nazionale months earlier, and is expected for the upcoming 'Picasso, lo straniero' exhibition at Palazzo Reale in September 2024. The controversy escalated in June 2022 when Senator Riccardo Nencini filed a parliamentary question, citing SIAE demands for retroactive payments and penalties of up to 400% for digital editions. In December 2023, the Lucca court ruled in favor of AW ArtMag in a case against SIAE, affirming the right to reproduce images for criticism and discussion without constituting economic competition. The ruling may set a precedent for other publications. Helga Marsala authored the article.