TWO QUESTIONS:
1) Can someone legally offer for sale a book based 50% on a personal diary covering 1986-1993 if: A) the diary was obtained through the purchase of a miscellaneous lot of items at an estate sale handled by an established auction house, B) names and identifying information are changed so as to make it impossible to identify the author or anyone named in the diary?
Assuming (optimistically) that the answer so far is Yes: Can the product legally include the diarist's real first name? Can the product include a photo of the diarist? Can the product included photos of the journals? The identity of the diarist is unknown. It could probably be tracked down. In all likelihood the diarist is deceased.
2) This is not a matter of criminal law, right? Who would have standing to sue in civil court?
Thanks.
1) Can someone legally offer for sale a book based 50% on a personal diary covering 1986-1993 if: A) the diary was obtained through the purchase of a miscellaneous lot of items at an estate sale handled by an established auction house, B) names and identifying information are changed so as to make it impossible to identify the author or anyone named in the diary?
Assuming (optimistically) that the answer so far is Yes: Can the product legally include the diarist's real first name? Can the product include a photo of the diarist? Can the product included photos of the journals? The identity of the diarist is unknown. It could probably be tracked down. In all likelihood the diarist is deceased.
2) This is not a matter of criminal law, right? Who would have standing to sue in civil court?
Thanks.
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