David Gerard wrote:
2008/12/26 WJhonson@aol.com:
If I take a picture of the Declaration of Independence under glass at the National Archives, I gain a copyright to my image. That does NOT give me a copyright to the actual underlying document that I've imaged. If I take a picture of the Lincoln Memorial, I gain a copyright to my image. Not to the item imaged.
Quite possibly false - see Bridgeman v. Corel.
I would grant him copyright on his original picture of the Lincoln Memorial, especially if his girl griend is in the picture standing in front of the memorial.
A picture of the Declaration of Independence is a different matter, except that with a big bright washed-out spot from the reflected flashbulb and red-eyes on the glass there may be enough originality. :-)
Ec