SELLING CULTURE. LEGAL CHALLENGES ON ONLINE AUCTIONS

Why is important to research the legal challenges on online auctions with artifacts?The evolution of online commerce with artifacts is a booming phenomenon that has apparently a set of rules established specific nationally and internationally. Today online auctions have an exponential growth trend generating important commercial benefits such as: the rate, the opportunity to participate in several auctions at the same time or in a very short time, the ability to communicate effectively and quickly with bidders; products can be up-to-date on over-stock or fluctuating stocks with significant value for specialized collectors, products sold can be unique art objects of immeasurable value. The question is whether globally online sale of artifacts is regulated in accordance with international law on the protection of cultural heritage and national law? The inconsistencies of legislation can cause serious damages related to: the existence of a grey market for stolen or illegally exported assets which come to the property of unknown private individuals and an abetment for criminal bands to steal and extract illegally valuable artifacts. Under these circumstances, many important historical sites are destroyed, devastated and the artifacts get illegally into criminal hands, and the loss cannot be undone in the future