There was a factory scrapbook of a production line of a company. The book had important photographs of the company products. The factory scrapbook was started in the 1910s and continually updated to 1960 when the company was carved up and sold off. The company exist today as a trademark name only. All company documentation was stored offsite and then destroyed in the 1970s. The factory scrapbook was not included in that destruction. It is the only surviving documentation of that company.
In 1993, the factory scrapbook was sold by an unknown person to Person A at an antique show. Person A printed a book using those pictures. Person A died and the family sold the factory scrapbook to Person B.
Person B made another book using those photos in 2010. Person B sold the factory scrapbook and all the 'rights' to his book to Person C.
Person C says that he owns the copyright to all photos in the factory scrapbook and the rights to Person C's book. Person A, B nor C photographed the items in the Factory Scrarpbook. The photographer is dead as is anyone who had first contact with the book. My question is this.... Since the factory Scrapbook was not an individual's book but a company book, did any of these people own the copyright of any of these photos? Person C told me he owned copyright on the photos.
Any advice is appreciated....thank you....
Person C
may have attempt to prevent the publication (or republication) of books created before they owned the scrapbook? Or are you trying to determine copyright coverage for some other purpose?