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LizV · Joined: 07 Nov 2004 Posts: 290 Location: New York

There have been some beautiful "pictures of pictures" in the top 50 list this week. Since the original artwork was done by someone else, are they ok to use from a copyright standpoint?

I have some Hummel-type figurines and was wondering if it would fall under the same category. Sort of like taking a picture of the Mona Lisa and making money from it.

Just wondering ........

mshake5918 · Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Posts: 189 Location: Ohio , US

Thats a good question. I know that art work is not something you can photograph and sell. Seems to be a fine line there. I wonder if you own the art work and the artist is no linger alive if its ok? If its your own drawing or painting then it would be ok for sure. I dont think the humlles would be in that category myself but im not sure on that either. Are publicly displayed statues ok to photograph and upload?

shutterstock · Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 1881 Location: New York, NY

GeneralE · Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 5:30 pm

I have some photos of some muralists working on a large mural on a building here, which I shot with the intent to submit.

The idea is more to show the muralists working than the underlying art, although plenty of that shows too. They gave me verbal permission, but since I had no releases with me, I was only going to use shots where they are not individually identifiable.

Does this sound OK?

You can see an example (Black&White -- the ones for here would be in color) at this link.

mk · Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 13 Location: Minneapolis

I was curious about this as well. I was doing a search for "Christmas" and came across what looked like scans of old Christmas cards. They are classified as early 1900 vintage illustrations. This sort of thing is okay to post?

bigzendragon · Joined: 03 Dec 2004 Posts: 30

I was wondering something similar - my grandmother has this great old box of Victorian Postcards...it's the sort of thing that I seem to see posted fairly often, but I don't want to risk copyright infringement...

GeneralE · Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 10:42 pm

Except in rare circumstances, I think if it was published before 1925 it is no longer under copyright.

You can check at the US Copyright office -- they have almost all the circulars, manuals, and forms available online or as downloadable PDFs.

Another good resource for legal information for the ordinary person (IP law, business management, incorporation, etc.) try Nolo Press. They also have a huge databast of lawyer jokes if you're into that ...