[WikiEN-l] State seals and fair use

[Stephen Bain]

On 8/19/07, SPUI <drspui at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Am I missing something here? Redrawing a copyrighted image does not make
> it free, and works of states are copyrighted by default. How are we
> supposed to get a free image? It's like getting a free image of Mickey
> Mouse.

Yes, if the seals are subject to copyright then a drawn copy is also
going to be subject to the same copyright.

But the thing with seals and stuff like that is that there are
typically many versions made, which eventually go out of copyright.
For Australia-relates things, for example, we use the  now public
domain 1912 version of the coat of arms, which still contains all the
same elements (the shield, the wattle branches, the emu and the
kangaroo) but is drawn differently.

It should be reasonably practicable for people from these states to
find an old version of their state seal on which the copyright has
expired. It may involve going to libraries in that state or something,
so that's why we have this call for assistance on the list.

-- 
Stephen Bain
stephen.bain at gmail.com