Section 277C Original paintings - Massachusetts Statutes

Section 277C. No person shall sell, or offer or expose for sale, or have in his possession with intent to sell, any painting which is not an original painting unless it is plainly labelled “not an original”.

All labels required thereunder shall be securely attached to any such painting. Such labels shall be fixed in such a position that they may be conveniently examined and shall be in accordance with the provisions of this section.

No person shall advertise for sale such goods unless such advertisement contains the words “not an original”. The word “person” in this paragraph shall not be construed to include a person owning or publishing a newspaper, owning or operating a radio or television station or other person furnishing an advertising medium for the sale of such goods.

Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars for each such painting.

For the purposes of this section, the phrase “original painting” shall mean a painting in any medium which has been independently created and executed and signed by the individual artist.

For purposes of this section, the word “person” shall mean a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or other similar business association engaged in the manufacture or sale of paintings.