Can coin images be copyrighted?

DesertLizard

This may sound like a stupid question but can coin or currency images be copyrighted?

I like to collect images of various coins for reference and just to look at but today I tried to do it [at a Bass site] and got a pop up saying it was prohibited and I was prevented from copying the image. I did find a work around, not that complicated, but was wondering about the true legality of it all.

Part 2: If you can copyright a coin image do you lose the right once the coin is sold?

Some may point to Anaconda but he is a PI lawyer and I am sure someone here has encountered this before.

lordmarcovan

It's an interesting question. I believe the person who created the image has sole rights to it, even if the coin is sold. This is why it is good etiquette to ask a seller "do you mind if I copy and use your picture of this coin?" after you buy it.

But I don't know the precise legality (or illegality) of it.

tradedollarnut

It is my belief that yes, you can copyright the image of a coin - the particular image that you took. If someone else takes another image of the coin, then that image may also be copyrighted by the person that created it. In other words, it's the exact image (picture, scan, etc) that you created that is being copyrighted, not the coin's image in perpetuity. The ownership of the image is independent of the ownership of the coin.

coppercoins

Images are understood as being copyrighted by intellectual property laws. I looked al of it up once but don't currently remember the names or numbers of the laws I did find.

The coins cannot be copyrighted, of course, but images taken of coins are. And yes, the person who took the photo owns the copyright regardless of whether they ever owned the coin in question, unless they are specifically taking the photo (for pay or otherwise) for another entity. In that case the other entity owns the intellectual rights to the photo.

As for the photos I take, I don't mind that they are used and collected privately, and if they are to be used publically I want credit for them to be mentioned with the use of the photo. If you have specific wants as to what you would like photos of, let me know and I can give you links to over 100 different non-cent photos and hundreds of cent photos.

DesertLizard

If coin photos can be copyrighted how can we tell if a photo has been copied?!!

Maybe PCGS can certify coin images as being original?!!

fcloud

The only way to protect yourself is to place copyright information on the front of the photo somewhere. You would want to place it on the image in a corner or something. If you place it off the image, some could just crop (cut) it off the image.

Tony

JMOORE

For what it's worth, I dabbled in photography back in the '80's and what coppercoins says is the way that I remember the copyright laws.

coppercoins

Actually there is no good way to protect yourself completely. Show me any image bearing copyright information and I can remove it. The key is that the copyright is assumed, and in fact, the "copyright 2002, all rights reserved" stuff is no longer required by interpol laws according to what I read (and I wish I could find it again). Intellectual property is more or less assumed, but it does add a certain amount of surety to go ahead and place it on there. I do it on every page of my site, but I don't do it with each individual photo.

Quite oddly enough, just playing around, I did a google search for my name this afternoon just to find out what's out there. The #1 hit was a letter I typed and published on my site regarding the use of photos from the site. Just odd I would find that out and see this thread in the same afternoon. Anyway, here's how I handle the "sharing" of my images, and yes, I have had problems with eBayers stealing them in the past.

coppercoins image usage policy

Blade

All said is true from my experience. As far as demonstrating that it is your picture, that's tough without impairing the image in some way. However, think of it like software or other intellectual property. You should not resell or claim as your something which is not.

Interestingly, the Harry Bass website makes it difficult to download pictures. When you attempt to copy an image, it tells you that you cannot and refers you to the Legal Notice page. It's a sure way to make clear that they own the IP rights to the site and it's photos. Here is how it reads:


The copyright in all original material provided on this Website is held by Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation or by other original creators of the material. Except as stated below, none of the material may be reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted, transmitted or copied in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation and/or the copyright owner. Permission is granted to display, copy, distribute and download the materials on this Site solely for personal, noncommercial use provided that you make no modifications to the materials and that all copyright and other proprietary notices contained in the materials are retained. You also may not, without Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation's written permission, . mirror. any material contained on this Site or any other server.

stujoe

I am not a lawyer but I believe every picture is copyright of the person who took it. Copyrights expire but not for a long time. The way I look at it is, if I didn't take the picture, it is the copyrighted property of someone and I need their permission before using it. If I can't determine who took the picture and was unable to get the proper permission, I would not use it publically.

When I want to use someone's coin photos for my website, I always email them to get permission first. Coin dealers generaly have no problem letting me use their images but want a credit when I use one of their pictures and I have no problems giving them the proper credit(s) and a link to their website, auctons, etc. Often, collectors don't care one way or the other but I still give them credit for the photo and always ask first even if they are good friends who I know are going to say yes.