Checking Image Publication Dates and Original Captions — Checking Image Publication Dates and Original Captions

Under copyright guidelines, a photograph's official publication occurs when copies are distributed to the public for the first time. Crucially, the public display of a photograph does not, on its own, constitute publication.

Editors must carefully distinguish between when an image was captured, when it was displayed, and when it was officially distributed. Reviewing these specific publication details helps prevent chronological errors in historical timelines.