Copyright and Image Rights
The Appledore Local History Society maintains an archive of historical photographs, documents and other material relating to Appledore and the surrounding area. Much of this material has been collected over many years from local residents, families, organisations and other sources.
Copyright
The Society recognises that copyright may continue to apply to photographs and other material in the archive, even where the material is many decades old.
The age of a photograph alone does not necessarily determine whether copyright has expired. Copyright duration depends on a number of factors, including the date the photograph was created or published and, where applicable, the identity and date of death of the photographer.
Where the copyright status or copyright owner of an item is known, the Society will endeavour to record and acknowledge this information where appropriate.
Where the copyright owner cannot be identified or located, the Society will make reasonable efforts to establish the provenance and rights status of the material before knowingly permitting its reproduction for purposes outside the normal presentation of the archive.
Nature of the Society’s archive
The Appledore Local History Society’s possession or custody of an original photograph, document or other item does not necessarily mean that the Society owns the copyright in that item.
The Society’s role is primarily to preserve, catalogue and make historical material available for research and educational purposes. Inclusion of an item in the Society’s archive should not be taken as a representation that the Society owns all intellectual property rights in that item.
Where an item has been supplied by a third party, copyright may remain with the photographer, author, publisher, estate, organisation or another rights holder.
Use of archive images
Visitors are welcome to view the material made available through the Society’s archive for historical and research purposes.
Anyone wishing to reproduce, publish, commercially exploit or otherwise reuse an image or other copyright material should satisfy themselves that they have the necessary permission or legal right to do so.
Where the Society is not the copyright owner, permission to reproduce an image must be obtained from the relevant copyright holder where required. The Society cannot grant rights which it does not own.
Copyright queries and claims
The Society is committed to respecting the rights of photographers, authors, publishers and their successors.
If you believe that you are the copyright owner, or represent the copyright owner, of material appearing in the Society’s archive and believe that it has been reproduced or made available without the appropriate permission, please contact the Society with details of the material concerned and evidence of your claim.
The Society will consider such enquiries in good faith and, where appropriate, review the material and its provenance.
Further information
For authoritative information about UK copyright law, visitors should refer to the UK Government’s Intellectual Property Office guidance:
GOV.UK – How copyright protects your work
How copyright protects your work
GOV.UK – How long copyright lasts
How long copyright lasts
GOV.UK – Copyright: orphan works
Copyright: orphan works
These links provide information about copyright duration, permitted uses and the procedures available where the copyright owner cannot be identified or located.
This notice is intended to explain the Society’s approach to copyright and image rights. It is not intended to constitute legal advice.