Legal Definitions - duality of art

Duality of art refers to the two-fold nature of applied art as both functional and aesthetic. This means that applied art serves a practical purpose while also being visually appealing.

For example, a chair can be considered applied art because it serves a functional purpose as a place to sit, but it can also be designed to be visually pleasing and enhance the overall aesthetic of a room. Another example is a car, which serves the practical purpose of transportation but can also be designed to be visually striking and appealing.

In terms of copyright, the United States takes a duality-of-art approach, which means that applied art is protected only when it can stand alone as an identifiable work of art, even if it did not perform the function it was designed to do.

Overall, the duality of art recognizes that art can serve both practical and aesthetic purposes, and that these two aspects can work together to create something beautiful and functional.