Charles Saatchi Suing His Book Publisher for Restraint of Trade

Posted on September 1, 2011

Art collector and gallery owner Charles Saatchi (who is perhaps better known to American audiences as the husband of tv chef Nigella Lawson) is suing his publishers for "restraint of trade," according to The Telegraph. Apparently, Charles signed a contract in 2009 with Phaidon Press for two books called The More You Like Art The More Art You Like and Questions by Charles Saatchi. The contract forbids him from preparing, editing or licensing any works that use material from those books, or which might compete with those two books.

Saatchi also wrote the popular book, My Name is Charles Saatchi and I Am An Artoholic: Everything You Need to Know About Art, Ads, Life, God and Other Mysteries and Weren't Afraid to Ask, and apparently he some other projects in the pipeline that will conflict with his publishing contract.

Saatchi is quite wealthy and sophisticated: he founded the largest agency in the world, Saatchi and Saatchi. Did he not read his publishing contract before he signed? Presumably he was represented by a literary agent and an attorney. Someone certainly dropped the ball here.