LEGAL DISCLAIMER

1. I hereby declare that I have never sold copies of, or granted any external use of images displayed on this website, which I do not own the copyright to.
2. The images are displayed for educational and research purposes only.
3. I will immediately remove any content that breaches proven copyright, at the request of the copyright owner.

The images and information that comprise this website, have come from a diverse array of books, booklets, leaflets, magazine, periodicals, postcards, and websites - all published over the course of the past 150 years.

In most cases, the publications are either out of print, or the publishing company is no longer trading.  To complicate matters; many images have been re-printed, both in different qualities and various sizes, across a wide range of publications.

The information in the publications has generally been repeated too, using sources that have been public for a very long time.

I have invested a lot of money into acquiring all of these materials, spent a lot of time colating the information, coding everything, keeping the site advert free, and presenting it all online for nothing; but do still want to try and remain on the right side of the law.  To explain why I feel it is acceptable to display, but not make any financial gain from the images, please refer to the following section.

UK Copyright Law

The UK copyright law fact sheet outlines the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, the principal legislation covering intellectual property rights in the United Kingdom and the work to which it applies.

Duration of copyright

The 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act states the duration of copyright as;

For literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works 70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the last remaining author of the work dies.  If the author is unknown, copyright will last for 70 years from end of the calendar year in which the work was created, although if it is made available to the public during that time, (by publication, authorised performance, broadcast, exhibition, etc.), then the duration will be 70 years from the end of the year that the work was first made available.^[REF]

Many images displayed are impossible to source back to an original photographer.  The original publishers of the images would have had to track down the original photographer and get permission to use the image.

This is extremely unlikely, as the image could have been over 70 years old for example, but the original photographer passed away.  If 70 years have passed since its original publication, then it passed into public domain.

The publications they appear in are out of print, and in most cases, the authors have passed away.

Therefore, it might be possible that many hundreds of images have been published, over and again, without any actual proof of copyright passing from publisher to publisher.

Conclusion: It would be unfeasible to expect me to have obtain permission to use images or information, unless I've specifically identified the original copyright holder and they are still alive (such as when I am purchasing images from the origin photographer)  In the case of identifying someone who is alive, and is still the legal holder of the copyright, then I have already gained permission to use the content, or been give full rights of use.

Requesting copies of images that have no copyright details.

There is a possibility that since some of the images had never appeared online until I published them on the site, that they straddled the thin line between public domain and still being protected by copyright.

I may actually now be in unofficial possession of the copyright of some of the older images, either acquired from publications or private submissions.

In the past, I have been approached by people purporting to be copyright holders of images or content.  The majority of the time, they will state that they have lost many thousands of pounds in income and lost revenue.

They have never been able to prove their ownership of any of the disputed content on this website, and I am now wise to these financial scammers.

However; should there ever be a genuine case, it could lead to the shutting down of this website.  This would be a great shame, as my main intention is to generate interest in local history, educate and entertain.

Therefore;

1. I will do my best to credit images where possible.
2. I cannot grant permission for those images to be used in any way, commercial or otherwise.  It's not because I don't want to, it's because I cannot assume I have any right to display those images, so cannot assume that you have the right to display them either, as I lose control over what happens to them.
3. I cannot prevent the use of the images not protected by copyright, or have any easily identifiable source which maintains strict ownership and usage of those images.
4. I appeal to those who use images, to do so in the way I have done it - in a not-for-profit manner, referencing the original source if known.
5. If you have identified an image you own the copyright to, and want it removed;please contact me, and I shall do so immediately.
6. Copyright holders should present all of the relevant evidence to support their claim referred to in sub-section v.
7. If you have identified an image you own the copyright to, and are in agreement with it being on display; please provide me with your name so I can credit you! (and accept my grateful thanks!).
8. Images have also been enhanced and digitally restored where required and possible, to present the best possible quality.

The copyright I refer to when displaying images I don't own the copyright to, is to try to protect the effort that has gone in to compiling them (and the provision of information).  I mean no malice nor wish to impact on any financial investment a copyright holder has made in any disputed images, and fully appreciate the need to protect your work.

Though I may sell copies of or licence my own images at any time (only those I have taken myself, or purchased the copyright to), I will never sell copies of images that I do not own the copyright to. This is a moral and legal decision.

I'm always pleased to accept images for inclusion on the site, and will of course credit every single one.  I have already incorporated many private contributions over the years, and hope that you feel comfortable adding yours too.

Your images will be unique to this site; they will not be found in any publication, or on another website without your explicit consent.

I am obliged to protect the copyright of images which have been privately donated to me, and to protect those who have offered their most gratefully received permission to display their work.  Therefore; to retain exclusivity and protect your copyright, the following statements apply:

1. Each submission is credited in the A to Z Image Index page.
2. Each submission becomes my digital intellectual property for use on this site.
3. I will not resell or credit any of your images as my own.
4. The original source of these images remains the copyright of the individual who has submitted them.
5. Exception to sub-sections iii. and iv. include instances when the full unrestricted copyright for images has been officially passed to me by the copyright holder (e.g. the original photographer).
6. Even if I become the official copyright holder of an image(s) freely submitted, I will always credit the original source.
7. If a breach of copyright has been identified, I shall on behalf of the contributor, pursue the protection of the copyright protected material(s).

There was a time when I never encountered a problem with granting use of my personal images for free.  They were duly credited and I enjoyed  sharing the fruits of my labour.

Unfortunately, more and more people were passing off my content as their own (especially on social media).  As of 2015, I have protected all of the original content I have added to this project.

Cardiffians contains images which are owned by the author and are copyright protected by the UK Copyright Service.  Registration Number: 284687666

1. Images found in any area of the site, but not the galleries, can be reproduced without permission, but must adhere to the Creative Commons licence when doing so.
2. Images identified in the galleries as © Cardiffians or © M Witty can not be reproduced without permission.
3. It is kindly requested that you seek prior permission to use any non copyright protected images, purely as a professional courtesy.
4. Any copyright protected material reproduced without prior permission, will be reported to the UK Copyright Service.
5. Printed copies of images identified in the A to Z Image Index page as © M Witty are available for sale or publishing, however;
6. I will not grant or sell copyright to any of the images I own.  I may consider a restricted license though.

The income from the sale of any copies of my personal images, is miniscule compared to the financial and time expenditure associated with keeping the website running for nearly two decades.

Costs include; hosting, hundreds of hours committed to preparing and publishing new content, purchasing research materials, purchasing original film/negatives (and copyright), purchasing professional grade scanners and software for the best digital restoration, purchasing software to produce the site, and future costs, such as implementing an SSL certificate, e-commerce integration and consultancy/freelance work.

In the long term, I hope to boost income significantly, which I hope will fund further research and purchasing of copyrighted materials, resulting in more images for everyone to enjoy.

Purchasing one of the author's images.

As of 2024, a new basic e-commerce facility is being developed, which offer a limited selection of prints from the website.

In the meantime, please find the reference to the image you want by perusing the A to Z Image Index page, then please contact me.

Thank you for your interest.