Since the 1970s, the trade in ivory objects, in particular those derived from elephants, has been subject to increasingly strict regulation. The legitimate objective is to combat poaching and trafficking. The result is a complex regulatory framework in which prohibition is the rule, and authorization, the exception. A recent decision…

The Grand Palais is presenting, until March 2026, the models for six contemporary stained glass windows designed for Notre-Dame by the artist Claire Tabouret. They are intended to replace six stained glass windows designed by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Although these stained glass windows were not damaged by the 2019 fire, the…

In a judgment dated 11 July 2025, the Paris Court of Appeal held that the presentation of a “fake” Chagall to the artist’s authentication committee as well as to an auctioneer constitutes an act of infringement. It therefore ordered the destruction of the disputed painting. In doing so, it departs…

Looted cultural property continues to be identified or rediscovered within public and private collections. These discoveries result from provenance research carried out by rights holders, departments of certain major museums and auction houses, as well as the Commission for the Restution of Propertu and the Compensation of Victims of Antisemitic…

Between vile symbols of an ideology to be fought and historical testimonies that must be preserved as a duty of memory, it is difficult to define the legal regime of Nazi objects. They remain in the attics of houses occupied by Germans, they sometimes appear in flea markets, sales or…

If the case of the fake 18th-century furniture from the Palace of Versailles has been widely publicised in its criminal aspect, the civil dimension of the case has, by contrast, been overlooked. Yet it presents major interest for art market professionals. The purpose of this article is therefore not to…

The Drouot Group is organizing an international conference in partnership with the newly created Société Internationale des Catalogues Raisonnées (CRIS). Several panels will bring together 17 French and international specialists around the theme “Catalogues Raisonnés: Past, Present, Future.” Olivier de Baecque will attend a legal discussion to deal with the…

The American Best Lawyers® guide has been unveiling its list of the best lawyers in many countries every year for 40 years. In France, Olivier de Baecque is recognized by his peers as the lawyer of the year 2022 for his expertise in art law. A single professional is awarded…

The Leaders League / Décideurs rating agency establishes the ranking of the best experts in 50 countries. For 20 years, this site has distinguished the best intellectual property law firms in France. In 2021, De Baecque Bellec is one of the best law firms in art law and trademark law.…