I recently acquired several thousand 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 and 4x5 original transparencies that I discovered are from the files of a now defunt postcard company. The company (Aladdin Studio, Columbus, Ohio), appears to have gone out of business in the late 70's or early 80's). I have many of the matching postcards, and the cards are marked with the company name, so I at least assume they were copyrighted. Though I also have similar images clearly taken in the same shoot that were not chosen for a postcard. And by "transparency" I am referring to either an original 'positive' negative that would be the first generation original shot, or some may be the 2nd generation image taken directly from the negative - either way, the transparencies are the original image used to print the postcards. In other words, these images would all be the master file images from the postcard company.
So my question is, what copyrights would apply to the images in a company name with the company long out of business? And is it a bad idea to assume no one cares since no one appears to have wanted the master images I now own? Though it is possible that the owner of the images passed away and that's how the images ended up at auction in an estate liquidation. Do I need to track down someone from the original company to seek permission, or find an heir? Or does my legally acquired ownership of the original images constitute my rights to publish / sell / grant rights, etc.?
I am grateful for any information on this.
Roscoe
So my question is, what copyrights would apply to the images in a company name with the company long out of business? And is it a bad idea to assume no one cares since no one appears to have wanted the master images I now own? Though it is possible that the owner of the images passed away and that's how the images ended up at auction in an estate liquidation. Do I need to track down someone from the original company to seek permission, or find an heir? Or does my legally acquired ownership of the original images constitute my rights to publish / sell / grant rights, etc.?
I am grateful for any information on this.
Roscoe