Numbered artwork or limited edition

[simple wisdom]

Illinois
Hi!
I am marketing resin reproductions of my original wood carvings and want to branch out into numbered, brass or copper reproductions (at a higher price to the consumer).
I can't find any info (after nearly 2 hours of searching) to define the legalities of offering this type of artwork.
Do I need to actually make the reproductions myself?
Do I need to oversee others making the reproductions?
Can the reproductions be made overseas without any input (except a final quality check) from me?
If I originally offer a limited number (say 500 pcs) and they become wildly popular, can I then offer an additional amount over the original 500 pcs?

Thanks very much for your help!What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

[quincy]

You, as copyright owner of your work, can reproduce it in any way you want. What you want to do with your original wood carvings is make "derivatives" - works based on your original work but with creative additions that can make these copper or brass reproductions original works, as well, while still being covered by your copyright. Making derivatives is one of the exclusive rights you have in your copyrighted original - no one else can make them without your permission.

You can assign limited rights in your work to others - you can, in other words, allow others to reproduce your work. Because you want to retain your rights to the work, however, you should have a signed agreement (an assignment, a license, a contract) protecting your rights to the finished product. For this you would be wise to contact an attorney who can guide you.

As for expanding a limited edition run, you would be committing fraud if you said there were only 100 in your run and then you later created 300. People purchase limited editions because there will be no others like them produced in the future, which makes a limited edition work more valuable than one that is limitless. If you think you may have a large market for your work, do not make it a limited edition.

A good site that you may want to check out is the NorCal Graphic Artists Guild site - although it focuses on California and California law, the advice offered applies to artists in other parts of the country as well. Go to [url]http://norcal.gag.org[/url] and check out "legalities" - specifically, perhaps, [url]http://norcal.gag.org/legalities/2005/legalities_no13.html[/url] (although the site has many areas that may be of interest to you).