Re: A little help...

Assuming this is in the US, the copyrights have expired. But ownership of the physical copy carries ordinary personal property rights, including the right to exclude others from access for copying.

On Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at 04:15 PM, Marsha L. Zavar wrote:
> An individual is aware that a museum owns original photographic prints
> that were taken of his family members in the 19th century by a famous
> photographer. They were taken prior to 1923. The museum claims to own
> the copyright to the photographs. The individual would like copies of
> these photographs to place in a family history that he is compiling.
> Who owns the copyright to the photographs? Are they in the public
> domain or does the museum legally own the copyright?
>
> Thank you for your time and attention.
> Marsha

-- 
Prof. Steven D. Jamar                               vox:  202-806-8017
Howard University School of Law                     fax:  202-806-8567
2900 Van Ness Street NW                   mailto:sjamar[_at_]law.howard.edu
Washington, DC  20008   http://www.law.howard.edu/faculty/pages/jamar/

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it for a time parts company with reality."

Winston Churchill, speech to the House of Commons, 1941