Copyright on photos didn't start until the 1960s, as said previously.
In relation to photographs made before August 1, 1989, previous UK copyright laws are applied to determine who is the copyright owner and for how long. There is no copyright in photographs made before 31 December 1945. Copyright in photographs made on or after January 1, 1946 now lasts for 70 years from the end of the calendar year in which they were taken.Ownership of copyright in photographs taken between January 1, 1946 and July 31, 1989 depends on whether they were commissioned. If they were commissioned, the copyright owner would normally be the commissioner, unless the commission contract explicitly stated that the freelance photographer would own the copyright.
Generally speaking, copyright lasts until 70 years from the end of the year the photographer died.If the photographer is unknown or used a pseudonym, duration continues indefinitely until the photograph is published. Once it is published, duration will then last until 70 years from the end of the year in which it was published.However, because the rules of duration used to be different, photographs taken before 1 January 1955 are now out of copyright.Where a Commonwealth, State or Territory Government owns copyright in a photo, the work is protected by copyright for 50 years from the end of the year in which it was first published. If the work has not been published, the copyright protection lasts indefinitely.
