Hi Ashley,



Unless your museum took the photographs, or was granted copyright in a deed of gift (or similar document), you don't own the copyright.  If you do own the copyright, putting your name on it won't stop someone from photoshopping it out.  When you post to the internet, use a lower resolution .jpg file.  If you put a copyright notice on an image that you don't actually own the copyright to, you could be guilty of copyfraud.  



Greg



Gregory A. Jackson, CA

Bryn Athyn Historic District Archives

Glencairn Museum

267.502.2997









-----Original Message-----

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ashley LaVigne

Sent: Friday, March 23, 2018 3:48 PM

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Copyright Question



Hello everyone. I have a question re: copyright. Our museum displays historic photographs in townships across our county and we were recently asked to help create tour kiosks along a bike trail. These will contain roughly 100 images. My director is adamant we now place a copyright tag on every single image, including the ones we will print and mount in our gallery displays. I think these look tacky and take away from the images, but he is convinced people will steal these images and reproduce our images for their own use/financial gain--thus saying we might as well not even house photos in our collection or sell them because everyone will have them. I personally think this is a bit dramatic. I was under the understanding that these photos are copyrighted regardless, and that ownership would have to be proven should we find someone reproducing our images anyway? 



Can anyone offer advice so when the subject arises again I can understand it better? I have been reading copyright laws, but I guess I need something laid out in a way I can easily understand. 



Please feel free to contact me off list. 



Thank you!



Best, 



Ashley LaVigne



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