who owns and image

[themanaquinn]

I have beautiful black and white photos dating from 1945 to 1956 some of the images are of me as a child. the kind of pics that now turn up on greeting cards.

Do i own these images and can i sell them ? as they were proffesional pics but I have no idea which photographers took them as there are no stamps on reverse of the images

[jno]

you own the physical photos, I should think, but the 'images' may technically still be the copyright of the photographer who took them. Since you have no way of knowing who this was - and if he's still alive he's probably long forgotten - I suggest you just go ahead on the basis that they're yours.

[tonymclark]

Yes, the person that took the photo owns the copyright, but as jno says, since the photographer may not recognise the photo, and they are photos of you, you may be able to claim the rights.

[saxy_jag]

Usually, if you can show that you've done your utmost to locate and contact the photographer (often no more than searching the local phone book or business directory), then you should be able to claim the copyright to the images. Since you have no way of being able to do this, then you should be OK.

[themanaquinn]

Thanks everyone, its just that two in particular are brilliant and I would love to see them used as greeting cards,

cheers guys