What can one do with a TrueView image?
lsica
Posts: 1,623 ✭✭✭✭
OK hope this doesn't poof because I'm curious - what can one legally do with a TrueView image? I know they technically belong to PCGS, and obviously using one in a fraud or deception is baaaaaaad, and I'm assuming trying to sell the image or claim you took the pic is NG, but what's OK to do? If you own the coin it seems you can obviously use it to sell it or to show a pic of it to others, but once you sell the coin do you give up all rights to use the image? Can you show the image around to say "yeah I used to own it"? What if you never owned it? Can you show it around and say "what a cool coin I wish I had it"? Am I in legal muddy water if I use this image of a never-owned coin as my phone wall paper? Can I print it out as a poster and hang it on my wall? I'm curious
Comments
have to ask pcgsphoto for an authoritative answer
Great question. I think I know the answer, but I'd like to get PCGS's official take on it.
I do not think they will let you make a NFT out of it
From the PCGS trueview website:
What are the Terms of Use and who ‘owns' the image of the coin?
Note that PCGS retains the image rights to the coin and may use the imagery as we see fit. That said, you are free to use the TrueView images however you like. This may include online sales or Set Registry listings, personal photo albums, or the creation of wall art or other décor that feature your coins.
My US Mint Commemorative Medal Set
What if it's not (or never was) your coin?
The only way to know for sure is to contact this email as I could not find any additional legal discussion about this other than what I posted.:
info@pcgs.com
However, their posted explanation does not specifically "exclude" the use of the Trueview pictures by others who did not own the coin, the way I read it. In some ways it is good advertising, as the quality of many of the photos is quite excellent.
My US Mint Commemorative Medal Set
First thing I thought of when I read the thread title.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=L8oAQOvOEXY
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I don't know the answer but suspect that, as long as you're not reproducing and selling them or using them for illegal ends, nobody is going to care.
The person or entity who takes the images is the copyright owner of the images. EVEN if the images of you are taken by another person with YOUR camera. the other person owns the copyright.
A TrueView image title on a coin forum actually made you think about a 40 year old Hat, Broach, and Pterodactyl Airplane movie? Must be high quality.
My US Mint Commemorative Medal Set
Nobody is disputing the ownership of the images.
Having shot weddings for myself and other photogs, as well as freelanced for newspapers, I bet a Hardee's sausage biscuit you are giving it to them when requesting a TV.
It has got to be somewhere in the fine print.
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I actually did email them and ask but I never received a response. The email probably just got lost in the bazillion "whatcha mean it ain't FBL??' emails I'm sure they get, but I was just worried that the topic itself might be verboten, which is why I said I hope this isn't a poof kind of topic
Honestly, I think the PCGS already posted rules that say "you are free to use the TrueView images however you like."
That should give you some comfort that you can probably use them even if you do not own them. But remember that PCGS always owns the rights to them.
My US Mint Commemorative Medal Set
What he said. Unless you are selling them it’s just a picture that anybody can take a screenshot of and use for personal reasons.
It reminds me of that artist who got in trouble for using a picture he googled to design the “Ocean in View” nickel. Because he used the image to help create the design he got in trouble, but anybody can google it and use it for personal use. I think it’s something like that.
Here’s a link to an article about that copyright violation https://www.dailyastorian.com/news/mint-credits-cier-with-design-for-new-nickel/article_b477ff8d-f58c-5d2a-a93d-8075bb908731.html
And here’s an article about copyright laws for photographs https://www.format.com/magazine/resources/photography/photography-copyright-law-guide
Mr_Spud
K tnx. Now I won't worry so much about having to take my Child's 1804 poster down and find my Farrah poster to hide the bare spot on the wall (and this is one of the few forums on the Internet that has the interests and the age to get both references
)
Once you get beyond using it to sell your coin online or making your own wall art out of it, PCGS will take interest. What form that interest will take only they can answer. Heritage occasionally uses them, and it's probably under some sort of licensing agreement. Publishing online galleries not through the registry has been a no-no in the past. Using them in a book would also be a no-no without a release for publication.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Copyright can be sold or assigned.
For example, the people that take the PCGS TrueViews don't own the images, PCGS, the employer does.
If it's important to own the images, take them yourself or have the photographer assign the copyright to you.
There definitely are some limitations.
From what I've seen, it seems like Heritage and Stack's Bowers need an agreement with PCGS to use TrueViews.
Also, a forum member made a website for toned Lincoln Cents that was frowned upon.