Help on issue

[Dileon]

Ok.....I collect tons of pictures off the internet, magazines, even books and they go into files....files that date back into the 1970's. I dug out a picture of a Russian father frost, that I been wanting to carve....this week I did the santa...the worst thing he looks just like the photo. The good part,.... I think he is an awesome carving. I been trying to locate the Russian man in the photo, .....I, also,.... looked into the USSR copy written law....which seem to be only for literature. How in heck does one locate someone who played santa in the USSR frozen barren lands? At my wits end ....any ideas.

[AlArchie]

Can't say for sure but if you can locate one of the elves, he may be able to help.

Al

[Dan Wegiel]

LOL!!!!!!!!! Great answer Al ! Sorry Di.

Dan

[Sharon of the Dell]

Hi Di, do want more info or more pictures? If pictures, when I'm looking at stuff, I use google images.

[Dileon]

I did the santa without using my head....happens a lot as I age!! smile then it hit me.... the owner of the photo may holds an international copy right. Although it looks like so far, USSR copy right laws do not cover much. I do not need photos, rather then permission to duplicate the photo to 3D then I can sell it.

[Dileon]

Calling all elves.....I need help finding a Santa....smile

[Claude]

Di:
If you are making this for yourself, no problem with copyright.
If you are making it and intend to sell it, you may have a problem, but only if the person who has the copyright to the photo knows about it.
In my opinion, as an engineer, not a lawyer, if you have a photo of something that is published on the internet, and you make a carving based on the photo, this is no different than being at the location where the photo was taken and making a carving based on the actual location. In other words, if you are sitting in the square in Moscow, see an old bearded man walk by and make a carving of him, it's no different that making a carving of a photo of the old bearded man. You aren't selling a copy of the photo; you're selling a carving, inspired by the photo...

Also, from a purely practical point, a copyright is only worth the money you are willing to spend on lawyers to protect it.

Again - from an engineer's perspective, and not from a hungry lawyer's...

Claude

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Originally Posted by AlArchie

Can't say for sure but if you can locate one of the elves, he may be able to help.

Al

LOL Al. Sorry Di.

Dave

[Buffalo Bif]

Throw the photo away, or delete the file, and pretend you never saw it. Besides, the photo does not show the far side of the figure, so that part is purely yours I think.

[mpounders]

You are not reproducing and selling the photo, so I would think you would be ok. It might be an issue if you were reproducing and selling copies of a carving or sculpture?