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Who owns Copyright?

Wife bought a box of ephemera at a local action which contained photos from late 1940's to 1950's with a company 'Copyright' stamp on the rear. The company was bought and sold several times and no longer exists as an entity in its original form.

Who owns the Copyright?

2 Answers

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  • 5 years ago

    In the USA, those copyrights would have expired 28 years after publication, unless they were renewed. If they were never published, they are copyrighted until 70 years after date of death of an individually identifiable photographer or (otherwise) 120 years after date of creation, as applicable.

    Like any other type of personal property, it could have been sold or otherwise transferred by law (e.g., acquired in merger, seized by creditors and fallen into the hands of heirs of some unknown successor).

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Copyright may have expired.

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