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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: Koufax73 on January 13, 2010, 07:57

Title: Copyright on world maps
Post by: 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...
Title: Re: Copyright on world maps
Post by: cathyslife 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.
Title: Re: Copyright on world maps
Post by: cmcderm1 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.
Title: Re: Copyright on world maps
Post by: 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.

Otherwise, anything before 1923 is out of protection.
Title: Re: Copyright on world maps
Post by: 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
Title: Re: Copyright on world maps
Post by: Koufax73 on January 15, 2010, 03:53
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.

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?

Title: Re: Copyright on world maps
Post by: madelaide 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.
Title: Re: Copyright on world maps
Post by: Jonathan Ross 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