This is nonsense. cinema advertising was either given away or sold in the first place, so as long as you are re-selling an original piece of cinema advertising, copyright laws simply do not apply.
If you re-print the poster, it MAY be a different issue, but even then 'Urs-Film' would have to show proof that they indeed own the copyright on this specific poster, and it would certainly be interesting to see how a Swiss film company manages to actually prove their ownership on a 1960s belgian poster... Alternatively, they would have to prove that the have registered the film as a Registered Trademark (like James Dean, or any Disney or Universal characters), but how likely is that? Even if they could, they would have to sue you in the Netherlands, and over a value of $40. Again, how likely is THAT to begin with, and what damage could they claim? If you want to reply to them at all, I would kindly inform them that you are selling an ORIGINAL PIECE OF CINEMA ADVERTISING, which is sold solely as a collector's item, with no rights given or implied. Just my two cents. Helmut www.filmposter.net > Hello Everyone on MoPo, we recently received the following message concerning > a Belgian poster we are selling on our website and are wondering how you, > specifically the dealers, would respond to this. > > this is to inform you that distributing and selling Wilhelm-Tell-Posters and > fotos such as you are offering them in your webshop is prohibited due to > copyright belonging to us, Urs-Film in Switzerland since 1958. The fotos were > produced during the production of the film Wilhelm Tell in 1960 and are > protected by copyright. > > Now there are two possibilites: you either stop offering and selling these > articles in your webshop immediately or else you tell us which percentage you > are willing to pay to us for any sale you effect- else our lawyers will take > you to court without delay. > > This is the poster: > http://www.motionpictureart.com/Wilhelm-Tell-Movie-Poster-p-20446.html > > Thanks in advance for your input. > Ron & Alexandra > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com > ___________________________________________________________________ > How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List > Send a message addressed to: [email protected] > In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L > The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [email protected] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
