2009/1/14 WJhonson@aol.com:
If I take a photo of your photo, I own the photo that I created. As does Corbis. If they scan, upload, duplicate, xerox, or in any other way, create a new physical item, even if it's an exact copy of some other item, they own that new item. You should not ethically use their item, without crediting them. That is not the same as a copyright, and just because you make a copy doesn't mean you create a new copyright to that copy. It certainly has no bearing whatsoever on the state of the original item. If someone wants to use a Corbis created copy, simply because it's easier than trying to find another copy of that same thing, that Corbis didn't create, then that's their problem for being lazy.
This does not square with copyright law in any way. It's also arguable morally, given their clear and blatant attempts to enclose the public domain.
- d.