Loving Again(24)

                “Not always … ” Amanda began.

                “Oh, God, how insensitive.” Margo reddened with embarrassment. “I’m so sorry.”

                “Why don’t we get to the reason Amanda’s here,” Mr. Todd said.

                “While you do that,” Margo said, “I’ll work on getting my foot out of my mouth.”

                He gave his neighbor a thumbnail of Kane’s threat and asked if she had any advice, other than finding an attorney who specialized in art law.

                “Not sure I have any advice, but I can tell you there’s been litigation around copyright involving glass artists that might give you comfort, Amanda. The first was a case about jellyfish and the other was Dale Chihuly suing over his designs.”

                “I remember the Chihuly case,” Amanda said. “It settled out of court, I think, and the terms weren’t made public. But I believe the guy Chihuly sued still had a career when it was over and that says something. What’s the jellyfish one?”

                “Guy sued another artist for doing glass representations of jellyfish like the ones he did. The case was decided for the defendant because natural forms aren’t subject to copyright. More importantly for you, the court ruled the technique the second artist employed was in common use and wasn’t subject to copyright either.”

                “Based on that precedent,” Mr. Todd said, “if Amanda can show she’s using commonly practiced techniques, there’s not much to Mr. Kane’s claim, is there?”

                “Probably not, but if he’s lawyered up, you need to be, too, Amanda,” Margo said. “Can you give her a couple names, Mr. Todd?”

                “I plan to. Anything else you’d recommend?” he asked.

                “Dating your work earlier than the time he claims you saw his might help.”

                Amanda said, “Your piece is part of the series he accused me of basing on his ideas. Maybe the organizers of the LOCAL 14 show have records of what was exhibited that year.”

                “In my insurance file I have the receipt from the piece I own. There must be a date of sale on it,” Margo said. “I’ll make a copy and get it to you. And please take this seriously. Even if he’s got no case, Kane can make your life difficult with bad publicity.”

                “Wonderful. Bad reviews and pickets for my next show. No gallery owner will want to represent me.” Amanda closed her eyes for a few seconds, sighed and opened them.

                “Thank you both for your help. This thing has made me very uncomfortable. I wish I knew what set him off.” Amanda realized she had been chewing on her thumbnail and stopped.

                “What set him off is less important than getting him shut down,” Margo said.

                “Yes, absolutely.” Mr. Todd nodded his agreement. “But once you have a lawyer retained, you’ll be prepared for whatever Mr. Kane’s next move might be.”





Chapter Five


                Monday was the day Amanda worked on studio accounts and pulled phone duty. She didn’t mind doing the bills but the phone calls, she swore, were never for her. She was wrong this week. The first call was from her alarm company. The sensor on her back basement door had gone off. Again. Just like it had for her house sitter while she was gone.

                When she went home and inspected the basement, the door was still open. She couldn’t tell whether someone had gotten in and gone through the boxes she’d not yet unpacked or whether it was a mess because she’d left it that way. She decided to take care of it later and returned to her studio.