Vintage content - public domain?
 

There is still porn around from the early 20th century. What I wonder about is if this content can be considered to be truly public domain or not?

A copyright is worthless after 70 yrs i believe?

The original material may be public domain (if it is old enough), but that doesn't mean you can copy a new production of it.

For example, Shakespeare's plays are public domain but Penguin books could sue you if you copy their printing of one of his plays.

Not talking about new productions here... found some pretty good stuff :)

if there really vintage (50-80 years) i am pretty sure your ok to use them, couldn't be any sort of copyright from so long ago considering such media would not have been legal at the time, or eligible for publishing protection... toss us a small example perhaps, punkworld..?

Copyright is a little different for stuff that old.. Pre-1978, it's 95 years from original copyright. So you're probably going to have a hard time finding photos that old.

Cheers,
Backov

No examples yet... would need to scan it first (which is hard, without a scanner).

Crap. I guess I'll have to wait a few more years :)

My grandfather was a pervert (see grand-daughter) and collected porn (1920-1980 when he passed)

I inherited all his pictures.

In 1986 a collector offered me a shitload of money for it and I sold a bunch, now I kick myself on a daily basis.

If I would have only know
If I would have only know
That I could have had a hot internet site with old porn
If I would have only know

But I didn't so fuck!

Lost Copyright:

All works published before January 1, 1978 that did not contain a valid copyright notice may be considered to be in the public domain.

Owners of works published between 1978 and March 1, 1989 that did not contain a valid copyright notice were given a five year grace period in which to correct the problem of publication without notice before their work was unceremoniously tossed into the public domain.


Expired Copyright:

The public domain contains all works for which the statutory copyright period has expired.

Additionally, you are free to copy any work published before 1964 in which the copyright owner failed to renew his copyright. See the section on Duration of Copyrights for more detailed information on effective copyright periods.


taken from: http://www.benedict.com/info/info.asp

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