bear
02-02-04, 01:57 PM
I'm in the middle of designing a site to honor my mother-in-law's (deceased) life and career. She was a notable fashion designer from some years ago, recognized through awards and White House dinners, as well as fashion publications and advertising from the period. As such, her likeness appeared often in various magazines and newspapers. In researching some of these images, we were trying to remain within the (copyright) law and obtain permission to use these images and ads. Talk about an uphill battle. :rolleyes:
Some of the publications are no longer in print, but still retain the copyright, since it lasts for something like 50+ years. Some, like the NY Times, were contacted for information, but once they returned the phone call (the third phone call, I should add), they said they can't give me any information about the images or ads that appeared in these "issues" of their paper or magazines. They (not so) helpfully suggested I contact the ad agencies that were responsible for the ads in question. Thinking this was reasonable, I asked for their name....which they wouldn't give me.
I mean, like WTF? How in the world do you respect someone's copyrights to something, if they won't bloody tell you who owns it??
Looks like I'm just going to publish, add in a disclaimer that we gave a reasonable effort to locate the rights holder, and if they don't like our using it, let them complain. At least we would know who the h*ll they are then...
Some of the publications are no longer in print, but still retain the copyright, since it lasts for something like 50+ years. Some, like the NY Times, were contacted for information, but once they returned the phone call (the third phone call, I should add), they said they can't give me any information about the images or ads that appeared in these "issues" of their paper or magazines. They (not so) helpfully suggested I contact the ad agencies that were responsible for the ads in question. Thinking this was reasonable, I asked for their name....which they wouldn't give me.
I mean, like WTF? How in the world do you respect someone's copyrights to something, if they won't bloody tell you who owns it??
Looks like I'm just going to publish, add in a disclaimer that we gave a reasonable effort to locate the rights holder, and if they don't like our using it, let them complain. At least we would know who the h*ll they are then...