Sale of Goods Act 1979: Primary legislation governing the sale of goods in England and Wales, establishing basic contractual requirements, implied terms, and rights of both parties in a sale transaction
Consumer Rights Act 2015: Legislation protecting consumer rights when purchasing goods, relevant if the art buyer is a private individual rather than a business
Misrepresentation Act 1967: Governs false or misleading statements made during contract formation, particularly important for authenticity and provenance claims in art sales
Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013: Regulations covering information requirements and cancellation rights for consumer contracts, including distance selling
Artists Resale Right Regulations 2006: Legislation ensuring artists receive royalties on the resale of their works of art in the secondary market
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988: Protects intellectual property rights related to artworks, including reproduction rights and moral rights of artists
Cultural Objects (Protection from Seizure) Act 2007: Provides protection for cultural objects on temporary loan to approved museums and galleries in the UK
Money Laundering Regulations 2017: Anti-money laundering requirements for high-value transactions, including art sales, requiring due diligence and reporting
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002: Criminal law provisions regarding handling proceeds of crime, relevant for ensuring legitimate sources of funds in art transactions
Export Control Act 2002: Controls the export of cultural goods from the UK, requiring export licenses for certain artworks
Export of Objects of Cultural Interest Order 2003: Specific regulations governing the export of culturally significant artworks from the UK
Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003: Creates criminal offences for dealing in cultural property that has been illegally removed from sites
Common Law Contract Principles: Fundamental principles of contract formation including offer, acceptance, consideration, and intention to create legal relations
Law of Agency: Legal principles governing relationships where one person acts on behalf of another, common in art sales through galleries or agents
Limitation Act 1980: Sets time limits for bringing legal claims relating to contracts and other civil matters
Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act 1990: Relevant when dealing with artworks that are fixtures in listed buildings or protected structures
Treasure Act 1996: Defines what constitutes treasure and how it should be handled if discovered, relevant for certain types of artistic artifacts
