Author Topic: Copyright on world maps (Read 4148 times)

Koufax73 · « **on:** January 13, 2010, 07:57 »

Hello everybody, maybe you've already talked about this theme but I can't find a topic like this before.
How do you deal with maps of world or single continents or countries?
I mean: every stock agency has a lot of images with representations of whole world or maps. But everything is free? No copyright here?
I know that the question can seem bizarre, but I wouldnt want to work on a map, and five minutes later discover that the guidelines on stocks are changed and that you can only use, to make an example, the maps of google but you can't use the ones of yahoo...

cathyslife · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2010, 08:00 »

Maps that have been printed in a book are surely copyrighted, especially Rand McNally. I'm not sure how all of the maps that got approved and still get approved do. To just take a picture of the map likely won't fly anymore.

If you had a map as a small part of your overall composition, in the background, blurred, I think it would be approved. Just my opinion though. It's all a crapshoot.

cmcderm1 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2010, 18:58 »

Copyrights expire after a number of years - like 75 in the US, I think. Just buy really old maps on eBay and you should have no problem - just let the reviewer know its age.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2010, 06:26 »

Many people are using NASA images which are not copyrighted if that's what you are asking. That's why you will see the same/similar background maps in so many images.

Otherwise, anything before 1923 is out of protection.

Jonathan Ross · « **Reply #4 on:** January 14, 2010, 14:20 »

Hi All,

Recent globes and maps are usually covered by copyright, but there are ways around this.

Best,
Jonathan

Koufax73 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 15, 2010, 03:53 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on January 14, 2010, 06:26

Many people are using NASA images which are not copyrighted if that's what you are asking. That's why you will see the same/similar background maps in so many images.

Thank you, this was exactly what I wanted to know, but thank you all for all advices.

Quote from: Jonathan Ross on January 14, 2010, 14:20

Hi All,

Recent globes and maps are usually covered by copyright, but there are ways around this.

Best,
Jonathan

Hi, what do you mean with "ways around this" exactly?

madelaide · « **Reply #6 on:** January 15, 2010, 15:59 »

I have closeup images of maps with very shallow DOF emphasizing a city name and never had an issue. Perhaps today I would, but not when I uplaoded them.

Jonathan Ross · « **Reply #7 on:** January 15, 2010, 16:56 »

Hi Koufax73,

Do you have a cloning tool in your Photoshop? That should take care of any issues with copyright. Small chain of islands just off the coast of Oregon and... Good Luck.

Best,
Jonathan