Legal Question in Entertainment Law in Illinois

Can someone copyright a government mugshot of a criminal

Can someone copyright a mugshot photo that they got from a government agency? Wouldn�t those photos be public documents? If someone puts them in a book, and copyrights the book, can they claim ownership of that photo? Thanks


Asked on 7/26/08, 3:55 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Donald R. Simon The EIP group

Re: Can someone copyright a government mugshot of a criminal

No. Your copyright is in the work as a whole (or compilation), which doesn't affect the ownership or public domain designation (as in this case) of the underlying photos. If the photo is in the public domain as you claim and free of copyright ownership, then you may use it how you wish. However, so may someone else without fear of infringing a copyight.

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Answered on 7/26/08, 5:52 pm


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