"Public domain war photos?" Topic

I'm looking for some photos to use rules I'm self publishing. I see some other people using war photos without any credits given and I'm wondering where they're coming from or where I can look for free images.

Any info appreciated. Thanks!

I believe most of the photos taken by US Army photographers are in the public domain.

You might want to double-check that though.

I suspect US Army sites, and museums would be the first place to start.

Look for things specifically listed as being available under public domain or creative commons licenses.

Wikicommons is a really good source for this. So for example, if you wanted public domain pictures of WWII tanks in general, you would do a Google search under images for

"wikicommons world war ii tanks"

and you'll get a slew of images. If you wanted a specific type of tank, e.g., a Sherman, you would search for "wikicommons world war ii tanks Sherman"

From the list of images that you get from your search, go to the image pages that are on commons.wikipedia. Each wikicommons page has all the public domain info for an image – the proof for and reasons why it is in the public domain, how the image should be attributed (in some cases, specific phrases have to be used) and any restrictions (for example, some public domain images cannot be used on the front cover of a work).

By the way, in your searches try to include all possible variants. So

"wikicommons world war ii mg34"

and

"wikicommons world war ii mg-34"

give slightly different lists of images (different at least in which images show up at the top of the queue). So you'd really want to search for

"wikicommons world war ii mg34 mg-34"

so that you'd have a more comprehensive list and a better chance of getting that perfect picture for your rules.

Copyright for most images is done after 50 years

I don't know what the National Archives would have in their online collection, but all of their photographs are public domain.

Any photos taken by a government employed photographer are public domain. They were getting paid with your money, tax dollars.

Also, any photos taken by our enemies, Italians, Germans or Japanese are public domain, those governments no longer exist.

I thought rights on photos only go back for 70 years, but it might be 50, so, anything you find from WW II is also good to use regardless of source.

I was going to add, the Soviet Union isn't going to sue you but still try to look for things that are known to be public domain.

Sometimes ownership claims can travel a long way.

Please do note that under some open licenses I've seen, you may be required to supply the original image upon request, (similar to how many open source licenses work).
If you edit or modify an image, just keep a copy of the original around on your hard drive, to make sure you're in compliance.

Copyrights do differ by nation as well.

From my work in archives I know that UK copyright on Photos is complex as to how long it lasts. It depends on all sorts of things that I never understood. Any thing from 25years from publication to 125years from creation. 50 years from publication seams the usual that apply but note that is from publication, if it has lain in an archive for a time unpublished the 125years from creation may be what applies.

I don't understand it and would advise cation.

x42

Under US laws it also depends on when it was taken, what claims were made and whether extensions were requested.

All convoluted stuff.

(and if researching this, please do note that laws are different between photos, text, music etc.)

Anything taken in the US by an official government photographer is in the public domain. The various archives however request that you give them proper photo credit.

Do bear in mind that photos taken by various contractors or hired personnel may NOT be, despite being on a government website.

Basic UK copyright is actually 70 years after the death of the person who created the work. Hence it varies a lot from image to image (as it isn't related to when the work itself was created, who owns it or when it was published … only to the death of the artist/originator) – and it isn't always clear who does own the copyright (although generally for work done as part of one's job, the copyright belongs to the employer, otherwise – until sold or reassigned – to the artist) …

Note that 'creative commons' and similar licences are for non-commercial use (so if your rules were being sold, then it is likely that the licenses for non-commercial use would not apply … so you would be better off with out of copyright works. Under UK law, some WWII era rights have lapsed but its best to assume not) …

Phil

Phil
You are quoting for written work. Images differ.

x42

Not all creative commons licenses are non commercial. You need to evaluate the terms for each particular image.

Phil
You are quoting for written work. Images differ.

x42

No, I'm not and no the copyright on images does not differ in the UK …

Phil

People looking at this question in the UK might look at the IPO guidelines … PDF link

Hope it helps,

Phil

Various governments tend to make their stuff free BUT check their terms and conditions- if this is a for profit work then there may be restrictions

"Anything taken in the US by an official government photographer is in the public domain"

That's fine within the US but potentially gets complicated outside.

Yes, Title 17 says that they can gain no protection for those works – the aim being to put them in public domain although it can hold assigned copyrights – including those assigned by the law of other nations…..you copy/publish those images abroad and the US government may happily have a copyright as asserted in the 1976 revisions.

To quote the relevant bit of the House Report on Section 105 of Title 17
'The prohibition on copyright protection for United States Government works is not intended to have any effect on protection of these works abroad. Works of the governments of most other countries are copyrighted. There are no valid policy reasons for denying such protection to United States Government works in foreign countries, or for precluding the Government from making licenses for the use of its works abroad.'
Original Page Scan here
link

Anyone know if anyone holds the rights to this image? I used it in some temp cover art that I rather like.

The Russian International News Agency (RIA Novosti) holds the rights, but you are free to copy, transmit, and distribute the image (even alter it) as long as you follow certain attribution and sharing conditions. For the licensing information and attribution requirements for this image, go to:

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RIAN_archive_44732_Soviet_soldiers_attack_house.jpg

Cheesesailor77,

On the issue of alteration, the image you posted is a cropped version of the original. Since the original image's license allows for alteration and transformation, the cropped version is perfectly legit as long as you follow the licensing requirements for attribution and sharing. So you can use the more expansive original, or the more tightly focused version you already have – whichever one works best for your cover!

Roy

Awesome, thanks guys!