Warbird Information Exchange

Just an example of what I'm talking about claiming 'ownership' of a wartime photo. This is one of the 479th FG pilot photos I have. It's dated 1944, I know where it came from and it tracks back to a groundcrewman from the 479th. It's mine now. So if someone uses this image do I get the credit? Interestingly I came across the same photo in Terry Fairfield's book on the 479th FG. In there it's credited to Clarence G. Haynes. Well clearly there are at least two wartime copies of that photo floating around that belonged to 479th people. No doubt the photo section made many images for folks to have.

It's Captain William Gates of the 479th.




I loaned a bunch of photos I'd gathered over the years from pilots and ground crew from 41 Squadron RAF. These showed up in two different books, one on the Spitfire XII and one on 41 Squadron specifically. In both cases the authors had to decide who got credit for the images. In many cases they'd been loaned the same image, printed during the war and had to basically flip a coin to see who was given the credit. I did my best to give the names of the people who'd given me the photos, many of whom had since passed away.

In the end does it really matter? To me sharing the images and getting them out there for folks to learn is the key anyway. If all they do is sit in some collection gathering dust and never being shared, there isn't much point then is there?

Dan makes a fair point so I'll respond to that. It's not about ownership it's about respect and conducting yourself in a manner that's respects the time and effort of others. The first thing is that I have the original prints of these photos but do I own the rights to them....no! They're gov't photos and therefore in the public domain. I'm sure that there are many other copies. When I scan a photo I run it through photoshop and edit it to make it like I want it. Whether it be adjusting colors, undoing the fade, cropping it to remove something I don't like and changing the format. I recently put up an album of my 357th FG photos on facebook on my own page plus shared the images on other pages that relate to these photos. I also had these up on ebay. Mr sabre/wixlover/liberator/phil/whomever clearly took them for one of those sources because they match up to mine like a positive fingerprint match. Once again it not about 'ownership' it's about respect or lack there of. Acquiring these pictures isn't necessarily cheap. Airfare, lodging, rent a car and restaurant food in DC isn't cheap if you go to nara to get them. Or buying original prints. Then add the time invloved in finding them, researching them, scanning them, editing them, uploading to photobucket or whatever then sharing them. Then someone downloads them with no respect to your expenses or effort and hides behind the veil of "public domain". I does make you feel like a rube, taken advantage of and yes I'll say it to some extent robbed. It's so FREAK'IN disrespectful!! Has you all know I tend to share a lot and am not big on asking for much in return. Google most any WWII US aircraft/ or unit then click on image and I'll bet you a shiny silver dollar that photos I've shared come up!! But, after all that, my photos stay linked via photobucket and are still on wix to be seen. I will say this Scott here has always asked for permission before using and given me credit for anything he has used. What's that get him?.......anything he needs!!

I think me becoming a liberal democrat would have better odds but thanks Mark!
Off my soapbox and back to my batcave................................

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Don't touch my junk!!

Thread locked pending review of the issue at hand.

Baker