James Cameron’s cinematic classic, ‘Titanic‘, in addition to marking a generation and generating millions in revenue, was also at the epicenter of a controversy involving the heirs of renowned artists.
A history fictional story, based on the sinking of the RMS Titanic, has brought to light unexpected legal issues.
Understand the controversy involving ‘Titanic’ and Picasso
Image: GZH/Reproduction
In the film, Cameron dramatically portrayed the loss of valuable works of art in the shipwreck.
A key scene involves the work “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon”, by Pablo Picassolending an aura of tragedy to the fictional loss. However, the inclusion of this work without the proper authorization of Picasso’s heirs generated legal controversies.
Those responsible for Picasso’s estate have spoken out, claiming that the painting was never on board the Titanic and, consequently, could not have been lost in the sinking.
The piece has actually been part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) for decades.
The legal debate initiated by Picasso’s heirs resulted in complications for Cameron. Even after the request for the use of the constructionsthe director opted for a copy of the painting in the recordings.
This copy was displayed in two scenes: when Rose decorates her cabin and during the representation of the loss of the works after the shipwreck.
The Copyright Society stepped in to defend the artists’ intellectual property. The lawsuit resulted in Cameron being fined for copyright infringement.
After the film was re-released in 3D, new questions arose about the use of artwork.
Cameron had to pay new licensing fees to use the painting in a specific scene, opting to replace the Edgar Degas work, already in the public domain, with another in the film.
The legal saga surrounding the works of art used in film serves as a reminder of the need to obtain permissions and licenses when depicting copyrighted works in film productions.
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