what year does a copyright law on photos expire? ive been told anthing after 1960 cannot be copied?

Question

i work at cvs and were having trouble with people duplicating photos. we need to find out what the cut off year is. is it 1960 or 1978? im confussed :(

Answer 1

ALL photos taken since 1978 are currently copyright.

Photos taken between 1960 and 1978 that "either" bear a copyright notation "or" are registered with the US copyright office are currently copyright.

Photos taken prior to 1960 that bear a copyright notation and are registered with the US copyright office 'may' currently be copyright.

Of course, if the person who brings in the picture is the person who took it, or an heir of the person who took it, then they own the copyright and can do what they want.

Richard