Who Owns Historic
House Plans?
To the Editor:
Here's a question about John Leeke's
article ``Historic House Plans''
(Restoration Primer, 7/89). Does the
homeowner have the legal right to
grant permission for his house to be
drawn, or does consent lie with the
original architect (or his estate), or
someone else? I'm sure many historic
homeowners would be flattered and
more than willing to allow you or me
to measure and duplicate their homes
(once they are convinced we aren't
burglars). I'm interested in where the
legal lines are drawn, however.
I am moved by the work of several
architects — Frank Lloyd Wright in
particular. My impression is that the
F.L. Wright Foundation claims copyrights
to all of his work