Check Image Publication Dates

Determining whether a photograph is published is important for copyright registration and legal relief options. Under U.S. copyright guidelines, a photograph is published when copies are distributed to the public, or offered to a group for further distribution or public display. However, the public display of a photograph, in and of itself, does not constitute publication. Identifying the specific publication dates is required when registering a group of published photographs with the U.S. Copyright Office.