Copyright Law

Hello! I have a question regarding the use of images from old books and such to make cuts from. Does anyone happen to know the rule for using old images? Are images printed over 100 years ago or cuts from that time OK to use for commercial purposes or are they still protected by Copyright Law? I am starting a small specialty letterpress card company and certainly don’t want to use images inappropriately. Thanks so much!! BettinaanitteB

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BettinaanitteB

Yes, for the most part, images from before 1935 are now certainly in public domain. There are exceptions, based on ownership of photo prints and rights thereof.

Gerald

BettinaanitteB

I just checked

http://www.copyright.gov/

and from what I got out of that the current range of public domain can vary from before 1912 to before 1950 (or later), depending upon the possibility of renewal, as well as additional protection extended by the latest revision of the Copyright Law.

You can always run a copyright notice through the government’s database to verify, though it will cost you some money.

Gerald

Thank you for your reply Gerald, I appreciate your time! I will take a look at the website you suggested.
BettinaanitteB

Have you ever seen all those soft cover Dover clip art books? It is a wonderful service to the graphic artist. You will notice that the majority of their work covers art more than eighty years old; ink drawings, paintings, wood engravings, and etchings. Dover makes its living exploiting copyright free art, all they do is cut up old books and publish the ornaments, dingbats, and illustrations pasted on pages. So can you. Gerald probably refered you to a good site, so I won’t do it, but in general books published before 1923 are free for you to cull. Books copyrighted between 1923 and 1963 are also free unless someone was around to renew the copyright (like Disney).

Thank you Scottford, I appreciate the insight, and your time! Bettina

Don’t forget, US Government publications are (generally) free for use as well.