Copyright advice on pictures of people from 25-30 years ago

[Blasted]

I recently got given some old negatives for pictures that were shot around my local area and I thought I would build a second website to host them on so as not confuse with my own work, which is on another website.

Anyway, some of these photographs are of the teachers at a primary school I attended. They were taken between 25 and 30 years ago.

My question is, are there any issues with me adding the pictures of the teachers at the school to the website? I’m sure people would love to see them, but I don’t want to cross any legal lines. So what am I allowed to do? They wern't shot on the street but actually in the school.

 

[Alastair]

The copyright lies with the photographer and remains with their estate for 70 years (or so) after their death (I think, going from memory - someone will confirm the exact period of time). Unless the photographs were taken in the course of employment, where the copyright may belong to the employer and I'm not sure how long copyright lasts in that context.

The second part of the question doesn't appear to relate to copyright at all, and is more of a moral issue. But there's possibly a context issue that may be difficult to confirm, i.e. if any conditions were imposed on the original photographer at the time the photos were taken.

 

[Phil V]

I think our current copyright laws go back to '87. The previous law had commissioned work belonging to the customer IIRC.

But by the sound of these they may not be commissioned work, so the copyright is likely still held by the photographer. If you have no idea who that is, you could put a note with the pictures, asking them to get in touch to discuss credit /permission / funds.

 

[KIPAX]

First thing that strikes me... if these where your pictures.. what would you do when you found a whole website full of them? There doesn't seem to be any mention or even thought given to the photogrpaher who took the pictures.... Not from your post...

 

[Blasted]

Thanks for the replies.

I should have made it clear at the outset that I have the photographers permission and they have literally been given to me, at no point am i passing them off as my own, hense me creating a seperate stand alone site for them. The photogpraher is happy not to have his name atttached to them but is happy for them to be shared. Some of the pictures have a local historical aspect to them. I will have to check regarding what the context of the job was, I am under the impression it ws not a paid up thing, rather just an extension of a hobby. I'm aware there would be no issue at all had these been shot out on the street, but these were shot in the school. Of course if someone did object to their image being up and they asked nicley I would remove it.

 

[KIPAX]

Thanks for the replies.

I should have made it clear at the outset that I have the photographers permission and they have literally been given to me

Yeagh.. when asking about legalities of posting other peoples pictures it might have been prudent to mention that nugget of info

I shoot in schools all the time as do others.. really cant think of any single problem you could have..permission was given for the original pics to be taken.. dont see any issues myself

 

[Blasted]

Ha ha , thanks