To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 20.We offer subscribers exclusive access to our best journalism.Ĭourt documents don’t specify who is suspected of creating the faux paintings, or where. 20580 20 TTY for the hearing impaired 1-86. Leon Amiel Publisher, Inc., et al, are available from the FTC's Public Reference Branch, Room 130, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. Copies of the brochure, the proposed consent judgment and the January 1995 complaint in this case, and documents related to FTC v. ![]() The FTC has developed a free brochure for consumers titled "Art Fraud." The brochure warns that consumers of all walks of life are targeted by fraudulent art scams, explains how the scams typically work and offers tips on how to avoid being victimized. Consent judgments have the force of law when signed by the judge. NOTE: This consent judgment is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by the defendant of a law violation. The FTC's Los Angeles Regional Office handled this litigation. District Court for the Central District of California, in Los Angeles, on Jan. The Commission vote to file the settlement in court was 5-0. The consent judgment also contains various reporting provisions that would assist the FTC in monitoring the defendants' compliance. any other fact material to a consumer's decision to purchase the artwork.that any artwork is part of a limited edition of prints of a given size by a particular artist and.that any artwork was individually hand-signed or plate- signed by a particular artist or that it carries an authorized facsimile signature.that any artwork was authorized by a particular artist or his or her representative.that any artwork displaying an original signature or edition size designation is the work of a particular artist. ![]() In addition, it would prohibit the defendants, in connection with marketing any artworks, from falsely representing It would require the defendants to pay $25,000 within five days of the court's approval and the remaining $125,000 over a 27-month period. The proposed consent judgment to settle these charges requires the court's approval to become binding. These representations were all false, the FTC charged. They allegedly represented that the prints were the work of the named artists or that they were authorized by the artist hand-signed by the artist, and part of limited editions of prints by the artist. The complaint alleged that the defendants conducted public auctions, and auctions for charity or fundraising purposes for churches, schools and other organizations, throughout the western United States. According to the FTC's complaint in this case, Hang-Ups and Klein bought and sold purported limited-edition prints attributed to well-known artists, such as Marc Chagall, Joan Miro and Pablo Picasso. Hang-Ups is an Orange, California-based firm sued by the FTC in January 1995 following the agency's industry-wide investigation into fraudulent practices in the marketing of fine art prints distributed by members of the Amiel art counterfeiting ring. Consumers also should be wary of promises of great investment returns and high-pressure sales tactics." ![]() To protect themselves, consumers may want to insist, when they buy "genuine, hand-signed" prints, that the purchase be conditioned on an appraisal by an independent expert of their own choice. These prints also show up at seemingly reputable art galleries in local communities. The settlement the FTC has negotiated with these defendants also contains strong prohibitions against false claims about the nature of any artwork they sell in the future.Īccording to FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Jodie Bernstein: "Our industry-wide investigation in this area has revealed that it's not only the fly-by-night telemarketers who sell fake art prints. and its president, Max Klein, have agreed to pay $150,000 into a fund to be distributed to consumers who bought allegedly fake prints from them, as part of a settlement of Federal Trade Commission charges. About the FTC Show/hide About the FTC menu items.News and Events Show/hide News and Events menu items.Advice and Guidance Show/hide Advice and Guidance menu items.Competition and Consumer Protection Guidance Documents.Enforcement Show/hide Enforcement menu items.
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