Artist heartbroken by copyright battle warns others

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Marlborough based Finnish artist Sirpa Alalääkkölä says a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court over copyrights to her artwork following a marriage split should serve as a warning to other artists. Photos: Sirpa Alalääkkölä • Artist Sirpa Alalääkkölä lost her appeal in the Supreme Court, which upheld a decision that copyright is relationship property. • The court ruled Alalääkkölä retains sole legal ownership, but copyright must be shared with ex-husband. • The decision highlights a conflict between the Property Relations Act and the Copyright Act. A heartbroken artist who has been battling her ex-husband for years over copyright on her work says her loss in a landmark case should serve as a warning to other artists.