Avoiding Unsupported Inferences — Avoiding Unsupported Inferences

A registered photograph protects the photographer's creative expression, but it does not verify the factual truth of the subject matter depicted. S. Copyright Office will not register photographs that lack a sufficient amount of creative expression.

Researchers must avoid making sweeping factual claims about a subject based solely on a photograph's visual appearance. True verification requires consulting independent, documented records rather than relying on artistic compositions.