Personal home pictures copyrighted?

Question

If I charge to scan pictures for people who do not know who took the pictures, is this against any copyright law?

Answer 1

it could also be against privacy laws:
The distinctions among privacy rights, publicity rights, and copyright are best illustrated by example, as follows: An advertiser wishes to use a photograph for a print advertisement. The advertiser approaches the photographer, who holds the copyright in the photograph, and negotiates a license to use the photograph. The advertiser also is required to determine the relationship between the photographer and the subject of the photograph. If no formal relationship (e.g., a release form signed by the subject) exists that permits the photographer to license the use of the photograph for all uses or otherwise waives the subject's, sitter's or model's rights, then the advertiser must seek permission from the subject of the photograph because the subject has retained both privacy and publicity rights in the use of their likeness. The privacy right or interest of the subject is personal in character, that the subject and his/her likeness not be cast before the public eye without his/her consent, the right to be left alone. The publicity right of the subject is that their image may not be commercially exploited without his/her consent and potentially compensation.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/copothr.html

Answer 2

Yes it is.

When someone takes a picture they own the copyright in it. ONLY the copyright holder can authorize a copy to be made.

Richard