Intellectual Property Law

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Question

Hi,
I have found some images of vintage japanese stamps online and I would like to copy some of these images...then have the images screen printed on a bag for resale. How do I know if this is legal and not copyright infringement?

I am also wondering about fine art also. How do I know what I am able to copy.

Thanks,
Angie

Submitted: 62 days and 3 hours ago.

Category: Intellectual Property Law

Value: $28

Status: CLOSED

State/Country relating to question: Ohio

Already Tried:
Nothing yet...wanted to become clear on the laws for this topic.

Posted by Alex Reese 62 days and 3 hours ago.

Answer

Generally, works pulished before 1923 are in the public domain and can be freely used and those published after that date are generall proteted by copyright and require permission to use. The following is a detailed copyright duration charts: <a href="http://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm">http://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm</a> <a href="http://www.benedict.com/Info/Law/Duration.aspx">http://www.benedict.com/Info/Law/Duration.aspx</a> you should try to do some research on the items to determine when they were published etc.

62 days and 3 hours ago.

Reply

Does it matter that I would be getting the image from someone's personal posting of the stamp?

Accepted Answer

No, it doesn't really matter here you get the image from, as long as yuo are copying the image or creating an image subsantially similar to it.

Accepts:
Expert:	Alex Reese
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	9/22/2009

Lawyer

5 years experience in intellectual property law

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