Copy Old Pictures to frame and sell. Copyright infringement???

[Coronado Art Gallery]

Hello Everyone,
I had this great idea to aquire old postcards from 1900 to 1940 of landmarks in my area, frame them and then resell them. I have found some beautiful images and was wondering what are the copyright laws if I wanted to make duplicates? Is thier a Statute of Limitations in years? Copyright expire after 50 - 75 years???? I will be happy to frame the originals and sell them, but I would like to sell the duplicates and keep originals. Can I make duplicates and just charge for the framing??? Any ideas??? I don't want to break any laws.

So I ask the masses in framing cyber space for help.

Life is wonderful
Business is Good
Customers are Great!

Be happy, lifes short, its only money. :)

Best Wishes and sucess to you all

Glenn :D

[JRB]

Glenn, somewhere on the cards, you should be able to identify the original publisher or photographer. Send a registerd letter to that address asking for copy permission. When it comes back undeliverable, save it. Make your copies, sell them, live long and prosper.

I'm not a lawyer but I think if you make a genuine effort to contact these probably dead and long gone folks, and can prove it, it would more than likly get you off the hook in a court room.

John

[AnneL]

Copyright has probably expired on something that old since the law in effect at that time was only for the life of the artist unless the artists' heirs renewed it. Do what JRB suggests and send a letter to the publisher if there is one on the postcard.

[ERIC]

I just left the other copyright thread, This is a hot topic. You might find info at www.gag.org (http://www.gag.org)
I do this myself, and as I understand it, commercially produced printed material prior to the 1950's is fair game. Most printed materials were done by employed artists and they have no personal copyright of any kind. It used to be a sweatshop type of deal. Its different now. There are some exceptions - LIKE MAPS !! Stay away from those.

Because they never had protection, there is a very small risk that you may copy a postcard that is protected. You have to decide for yourself if its worth it.