Old films

"Geoffrey S. Mendelson" wrote in message
...

I remember seeing an ad in a Macintosh (computer) user's magazine
for a database program. The ad used a photograph of a woman with a
Leica obscuring half of her face.

Apple's ad agency has screwed up a couple times. Their 'Think Smart' poster
of Bob Dylan was unauthorized, and I'm not unhappy about that; I have one.
It's worth a few bucks!

"Jeremy" wrote in message
news:bvq8f.13$hp5.10@trnddc04...
"Lorem Ipsum" wrote in message
...

Are you kidding me? Has the US gone completely nutz? I don't think there
is any case at all. The photograph was lost in time and space, for all
practical purposes the owner abandoned it so it fell into the common
domain.


Besides that, the photographer that shot the photo would be the one that
should be pressing his rights under the copyright law--not the subject in
the photo, or her son. While there might be an argument in favor of not
displaying someone's likeness without permission, who would be able to
identify her after all these years?

I see old photo albums regularly offered for sale in flea markets. I
can't imagine anyone popping out of the woodwork after over half a century
and asserting claims of improper use. How much of a judgment would a
court award? Perhaps $1.00?

"Jeremy" wrote in message
news:bvq8f.13$hp5.10@trnddc04...

Besides that, the photographer that shot the photo would be the one that
should be pressing his rights under the copyright law--not the subject in
the photo, [...]

Not in every case. Search on Jo Stafford.

Jeremy wrote:

"Lorem Ipsum" wrote in message
...

Are you kidding me? Has the US gone completely nutz? I don't think there
is any case at all. The photograph was lost in time and space, for all
practical purposes the owner abandoned it so it fell into the common
domain.



Besides that, the photographer that shot the photo would be the one that
should be pressing his rights under the copyright law--not the subject in
the photo, or her son. While there might be an argument in favor of not
displaying someone's likeness without permission, who would be able to
identify her after all these years?

I see old photo albums regularly offered for sale in flea markets. I can't
imagine anyone popping out of the woodwork after over half a century and
asserting claims of improper use. How much of a judgment would a court
award? Perhaps $1.00?



Depends. If someone reproduced that photo to use her likeness for
commercial purposes without her permission, it could be substantial.

OTOH, I doubt it would be a worthwhile pursuing a case over the sale of
the single old photograph on ebay.