Who owns Vivian Maier's copyright?

lxdude · Aug 13, 2013

Something I've been wondering about for a while.

http://gapersblock.com/ac/2013/08/13/the-curious-case-of-vivian-maiers-copyright/

lxdude · Aug 13, 2013

Moderators, please correct my brainfart misspelling in the title.

MDR · Aug 14, 2013

Thank you for the link makes for some fun reading and answers a question I've been asking myself for a long time.

SuzanneR · Aug 14, 2013

lxdude said:
Moderators, please correct my brainfart misspelling in the title.

Done. Interersting situation. I prefer the person who bought the work and printed it to benefit. The state of Illinois would have likely thrown her archive out if the storage lockers had been emptied after her death.

lxdude · Aug 14, 2013

I agree, Suzanne. The royalty arrangement sounds reasonable if it the state gains ownership of the copyright.

MattKing · Aug 14, 2013

The legislation that provides that the assets escheat to the state if there is no Will and there are no intestate heirs isn't there to provide for a windfall to the state - it is there to protect the value of those assets ant to permit the "winding-up" of estates.

Given the potential value of the estate, I'd be willing to bet that someone will spend the money to find a heir.

pbromaghin · Aug 20, 2013

MattKing said:
The legislation that provides that the assets escheat to the state if there is no Will and there are no intestate heirs isn't there to provide for a windfall to the state...

Ahhh, but one must remember where this is taking place. The State of Illinois is broke and desperate after decades of fiscal mismanagement, and won't leave a revenue opportunity such as this alone. A friend of mine in Chicago, who knows Maloof and is familiar with the whole Vivian Maier saga, is worried that it has changed his life, and not necessarily for the better. He could end up broke and broken, trying to defend himself from the state.

Bob Carnie · Aug 20, 2013

What are the rules on abandoned items in lockers??
I think it boils down to this , does it not?

lxdude · Aug 20, 2013

The items belong to the person who buys the items when they are auctioned. The negatives and everything else belong to those who bought them. But ownership of a negative does not confer ownership of copyright.

Bob Carnie · Aug 20, 2013

Interesting, so how long does copyright last on images, as well does one have to register copyright on images?

lxdude said:
The items belong to the person who buys the items when they are auctioned. The negatives and everything else belong to those who bought them. But ownership of a negative does not confer ownership of copyright.

lxdude · Aug 23, 2013

Bob Carnie said:
Interesting, so how long does copyright last on images, as well does one have to register copyright on images?

Under US law, i.e., Title 17, US Code:

Copyright lasts 70 years beyond death of the author.

Copyright exists from the time of creation.

Without registration, the author of a "work of visual art" can claim authorship and sue for infringement and receive actual damages, but not statutory damages or attorney fees. A "work of visual art" is defined in Section 101, page 7. Specific to photographs is Sec. 101(2)

www.copyright.gov/title17/

MattKing · Aug 23, 2013

Note that lxdude's info applies to the US.

In Canada: "The general rule is that copyright lasts for the life of the author, the remainder of the calendar year in which the author dies, and for 50 years following the end of the calendar year."

pbromaghin · Aug 24, 2013

In other words, it's a big goddamn mess.

Ed Sawyer · Aug 24, 2013

The state should own all of it, and put it in the public domain, for free use and enjoyment of all. Have it professionally archived, scanned and made available free. 2 or 3 carpetbagging , 'storage wars'-types should not be benefitting/profiteering from this as they have so far.

ambaker · Aug 24, 2013

Copyright, in the US will last as long as Mickey makes money. The duration used to be shorter, but as the expiration date approached Disney lobbied for a longer duration. Mickey Mouse brings in huge money for Disney, as do other characters for their copyright holders. Money buys lobbyists, lobbyists buy legislators, and so the great circle of life continues.

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Who owns Vivian Maier's copyright?

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