File:Rosemary Clooney 1954.jpg

English: Publicity photo of Rosemary Clooney

ebay

1954

Bud Fraker, for Paramount Pictures

• There is no renewal registration filed.
• See also film still article, which explains that publicity photos were traditionally not copyrighted.
• No copyright registered for this photo.
• It was created for publicity purposes-distribution to the media and the image was meant to bring attention and publicity for actors and actresses. See also film still article.

Film production expert Eve Light Honathaner in The Complete Film Production Handbook, (Focal Press, 2001 p. 211.):

"Publicity photos (star headshots) have traditionally not been copyrighted. Since they are disseminated to the public, they are generally considered public domain, and therefore clearance by the studio that produced them is not necessary."

"There is a vast body of photographs, including but not limited to publicity stills, that have no notice as to who may have created them." (The Professional Photographer's Legal Handbook By Nancy E. Wolff, Allworth Communications, 2007, p. 55.)

Creative Clearance-Publicity photos

"Publicity Photos (star headshots) older publicity stills have usually not been copyrighted and since they have been disseminated to the public, they are generally considered public domain and therefore there is no necessity to clear them with the studio that produced them (if you can even determine who did)."