Re: catalogue/book covers

[John Ruttner <jruttner@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Sep 22, 2004, at 8:33 AM, Ruth Roberts wrote:

>
>
> Hello all,
>
> I have been told that all catalogue or book covers are in the public
> domain.  We have been asked to provide photography of a catalogue whose
> main cover object is the property of another museum (overseas, huge, 
> and
> difficult to get to correct contact people).  Anyone familiar with this
> type of request?
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Ruth V. Roberts
> Coordinator of Rights & Reproductions
> Indianapolis Museum of Art
> 4000 Michigan Road
> Indianapolis, Indiana 46208-3326
> USA
> Phone:  317-923-1331 ext. 171
> Fax:   317-926-8931
> Email:  rroberts@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>

Hi:
Interesting question --  I don't believe that all book 
covers/catalogues ARE public domain, insofar as they may make use of 
content (e.g.images) that are held under copyright . I think, the issue 
is  dependent on what specific use is being made of the copy and by 
whom . In your case that sounds like the documentation of an 
event/display and certainly nothing that anyone would object to, but in 
theory ( and a different context)  it could be used to  reproduce 
images for commercial or at least less "cultural", non-profit, or 
academic applications. In short, I believe you are ok in this instance 
by virtue of Fair Use justification but not because of public domain. 
If I am wrong in this interpretation, I 'd be very interested to find 
out., so please let me know.


John Ruttner
Instructional Designer
Office for Distributed Learning
CSUSB


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