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The C.M. Russell Museum is the new owner of the title, "C.M. Russell Art Auction," after settling a dispute with the Great Falls Advertising Federation (aka Ad Club).

The Ad Club began the auction in 1969 as a fundraiser, with some of the proceeds donated to the Museum each year. Since then, the Museum has received an estimated $5.7 million dollars from the event.

Several weeks ago, however, the Ad Club announced that it will no longer be participating in Western Art Week, a Great Falls tradition that is highlighted by the C.M. Russell Art Auction. The Museum subsequently sued the Ad Club for use of the C.M. Russell name.

Sara Becker, executive director of the Ad Club, commented on the settlement by explaining, "While we felt we had a strong legal position regarding our rights to the name, Ad Club did not wish to tear our organization, our Auction family, or our community apart through a legal battle with the Museum."

The Museum agreed to dismiss the lawsuit in exchange for the rights to the C.M. Russell Art Auction name and associated trademarks.

Darrell Beauchamp, executive director of the museum, said, “The names and rights for the marks pertaining to the Russell Museum have always belonged to the museum. They have always been our intellectual property. The usage of the marks and names by the Ad Club was viable as long as the museum was the beneficiary of the auction proceeds when the Ad Club was involved in the auction.”