i can't find the original photographer, but i don't want to break any laws. i was hoping i could find someplace online that had a good amount of resources for getting a release on a photo that the photographer cannot be found. any help would be great, thanks.
2007-08-08 05:29:25 · 7 answers · asked by egeorge96 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
If you contact the office of your old school, they might have a record of who they hired to take the photos. Maybe they can give you the name and/or contact information.
I would also suggest speaking to someone who currently takes school photos (someone local out the yellowpages, for example) and ask them for advice on the matter.
You can also try looking through the US Copyright Office's website: http://www.copyright.gov/.
2007-08-08 05:48:10 · answer #1 · answered by wandergrrl75 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Checking with the school first would be a good idea. They would surely have the information on who did the photography. And if they don't have some sort of record, they would have a copy of that year's yearbook on file. It's very likely there is a credit in the yearbook for the photography company who took the pictures.
If you cannot determine the copyright owner, you may still be able to make copies. I'm certainly not an expert on copyright law, but I do believe at some point that most stuff becomes public domain unless the copyright owner actively claims copyright. 27 years could be enough time for it to become public domain. I'm sure you could get information from the library or online.
And if you do decide to make the copies, you will have to scan it yourself then have them printed. No photographer or lab will make copies from the original copyrighted photo unless you have written permission.
2007-08-08 06:11:41 · answer #2 · answered by ds37x 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is a photo taken by a photographer for school pictures he/she probably worked for a company that specializes in school pictures.
If it was a photo taken by a school photographer they probably were a student and the school owned the photograph. I know every so often schools will give away or destroy old photos...
Copy it and go on.
2007-08-08 05:35:43 · answer #3 · answered by ♥♥The Queen Has Spoken♥♥ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was 27 years ago. Don't worry about it.
It's a school photo, I don't think it is worth getting concerned about it.
Go to some good photography studios in your city and ask if they can reprodue the photos for you.
They don't need to know about your attempt to locate the photographer, unless you are asked.
2007-08-08 05:47:45 · answer #4 · answered by newyorkgal71 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First, I gotta say "Hey REDAPPLE", I was shooting in the 70's and 80's, and I aint dead yet. Geez.
Anyway, Just scan the photo, and use it as you like.
Unless your going to use it as a major commercial project, I dont see any ramifications.
2007-08-08 06:42:20 · answer #5 · answered by photoguy_ryan 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
use a scanner scan it to your computer and make copies if its from the 1980's and they guy was most likely in his 40 hes problaby dead by now, so just do it. .
2007-08-08 05:32:51 · answer #6 · answered by theredapple 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i would just scan it
2007-08-08 05:36:54 · answer #7 · answered by M S 3 5 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋