Pinpointing Image Publication Dates — Pinpointing Image Publication Dates

For copyright purposes, a photograph is considered published on the specific date that copies are first distributed to the public. It is also considered published when copies are offered to a group of people for further distribution or public display.

However, the public display of a photograph, in and of itself, does not constitute publication. Determining this publication status is crucial because the copyright owner decides when, where, and how a work is first published.