These links should answer your questions. http://www.pdimages.com/law/10.htm http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#hlc http://www.photolaw.net/faq.html http://osaka.law.miami.edu/~froomkin/seminar/papers/sabo.htm and the list could go on for pages..... If these don't answer your questions try http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=mozclient&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&q=copyright+law+photographs Tim qvarizona wrote: > I do not know the answer to the query re copyrights to an old photo, but I thought I'd read recently that the photographer automatically retains the rights to all photos he/she took --even though permission may have been given for others to use them. True? False? A bit of both? > > And IF it is true, what happens when the photographer dies? Who can claim rights? The cousin who finds the photo in an old trunk? The researcher who is not related? > At what point --if at all-- does the photo enter the public domain? > > Joanne > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html