In the high-stakes world of fine art, the difference between a masterpiece and a “mister-piece” of deception can be worth millions. For a long time, the legal system in Greece has treated art forgers a bit like mischievous schoolboys—giving them a slap on the wrist and a fine that amounted to little more than a “cost of doing business”. But as of January 2026, following the enactment of Law 5221/2025 and recent amendments to the Greek Penal Code, the government has decided to put down the soft brush and pick up the legal sledgehammer. This legislative shift ramps up penalties for the forgery of art and collectibles, sending a clear message: if you want to play at being Da Vinci, you better be prepared to spend some time in a cell that definitely wasn’t designed by him.
This change is a necessary evolution in a market that has become increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated rings. By upgrading these offenses from simple misdemeanors to serious crimes with significant prison time, Greece is finally acknowledging that art forgery isn’t just a “victimless” hobby—it’s a direct assault on cultural heritage. For the first time, the law is catching up to the technology, and “buyer beware” is finally being backed up by “forger be-warned”.
Raising the Stakes: From “Cost of Doing Business” to Hard Time
The most striking feature of the new legislation is the dramatic increase in the severity of punishments. Previously, under Article 216 of the Penal Code, forgery was often treated as a misdemeanor punishable by up to five years. Under the new regime, the focus has shifted from mere financial restitution to genuine deterrence through incarceration for serious crimes.
The End of the Slap on the Wrist. The law now categorizes the forgery of monuments and significant artworks with penalties that can reach up to 10 years in prison, especially when the acts are directed against the property of the Greek State or when the total monetary gain exceeds €120,000. This recognizes that for high-level forgers, a fine is simply an overhead expense. By imposing prison terms, the state is treating art fraud with the same gravity as serious white-collar crime, stripping away the “glamour” of the heist.
Expanding the Net to Intermediaries. Crucially, the law looks at the entire supply chain. While professional sellers of fine art have had due diligence obligations for prices exceeding €10,000 under Law 4734/2020(transposing Directive (EU) 843/2018), the new standards tighten the screws on transparency. If an institution knowingly facilitates the sale of a counterfeit, they can no longer hide behind “good faith” disclaimers.
Modernizing Consumer Recourse. In the light of older lacunae, the modernized Greek Civil Code (following Law 4967/2022) now provides a strict liability regime for sellers. Buyers of forgeries can rely on warranties of agreed quality for two years, which can be extended to 20 years if the seller fraudulently concealed the defect. The law now also considers the psychological stress of the victim, allowing for damages that acknowledge the loss of trust in the cultural record.
Policing the Past: Why This is a Win for Cultural Guardianship
For an art and cultural law expert, this is a long-overdue victory for cultural guardianship. Greece, governed by the foundational Law 3028/2002, has always been a target for “pastiche” forgeries. The new penalties provide the teeth needed to protect not just wallets, but the sanctity of the historical narrative itself.
Bridging the Expertise Gap. One of the biggest hurdles in prosecution has been the “subjective aesthetic judgment” of experts. The new law, alongside reforms in the Greek Code of Civil Procedure (Law 5221/2025), encourages a more rigorous forensic approach, utilizing court-appointed experts and allowing for remote testimony via videoconference to speed up domestic cases, which now aim for a hearing within 6–7 months.
The Global Signal on Restitution. This move aligns with Greece’s leading role in global restitution efforts, as seen in the recent repatriation of 29 antiquities from New York in October 2025. By ramping up domestic forgery penalties, Greece is signaling to the global market that it is a safe place to trade, protecting the “Made in Greece” brand for contemporary artists.
The Inherent Conflict: Authenticity vs. Market Speed. The law addresses the conflict between the rapid pace of auctions and the need for authentication. By making the legal consequences of a mistake so severe, the law forces the market to slow down, prioritizing the sanctity of the object over the speed of the transaction.
Ultimately, the new Greek legal framework is a masterstroke. It moves art forgery out of the shadows of “white-collar mischief” and into the harsh light of criminal accountability. For the curators and honest collectors, it’s a long-awaited shield. For the forgers, the canvas just got a whole lot smaller.