Spanish Supreme Court rules against Dalí Foundation in copyright case

The Spanish Supreme Civil Court has ruled against the Dalí Foundation in a copyright dispute, declaring that the foundation does not hold exclusive rights to the artist's image. The case, initiated in 2009, involved the foundation suing Faber Gotic and its owner for using Dalí's name and image in an advertising campaign for a sculpture exhibition at the Royal Artistic Circle of Barcelona. While the court acknowledged that copyright had been violated, it determined that the artist's image had not been damaged. The ruling, issued on June 21, 2016, suggests that the foundation is more interested in monetizing Dalí's image than preserving his legacy. The decision may become historic, as it references Dalí's 1982 declaration that Spain is the sole heir of all his assets, rights, and artistic production. The foundation was established by Dalí a year later, and the state subsequently ceded its rights. However, the court stated that upon Dalí's death, the rights related to his person, including image rights, were extinguished.