

Copying public domain images

If you are wondering if you can copy public domain images, yes, you can. Once an image goes into public domain, the right to copy it goes to the people. That us. The right to copy does not go to a corporation, an individual, even to a library. Putting a copyright stamp on a public domain image is like scratching your name on the Brooklyn Bridge, it doesn't make you own it, and if people think that they have to pay you for it, well, that's their problem.

The Library of Congress was founded to protect individual copyrights for the life of the creator, and their heirs, but mostly it was founded to deliver books, inventions, and images to the American people. It was, and is, a good idea. If you want to scan and post public domain images, do so.

That is your right, and if anyone tells you otherwise, tell them that there is a bridge in Brooklyn that they may want to buy.