Are there any copyright issues with regard to using WWII eighth air force and individual squadron insignia? For example using them in images i create for the internet or show on video?

Any image created by a government employee in the course of their duties is not subject to copyright.  This would include "offical"  individual air force patches/insignia.
 
Most squadrons and groups had patches/insignia created by individuals in the organization, or had a commercial artist draw up a design which was purchased, and then submitted for "official" approval, so I think  those would be covered as above.  Only problem might be with some groups and squadrons who had artwork done for their insignia by private commercial art firms or businesses .... Disney comes to mind as the main one .... and some of these MAY still be copyrighted.

SHAEF1944 American Veterans Museum

Hi
A tricky question, as many groups had variations on single designs for example squadron symbols, as well as group insignia. A lot of groups adopted unofficial insignia and a lot of them never became sanctioned by the AAF, and later the USAF if those partoicular groups continued post war thru to today.
 
My question would be how the use of indovidual insignia is used, in what context. Are they fully credited as having been 'this group' or 'this unit'. Or would parts of an insignia be copied and manipulated into something else totally different from the original design and meaning.
 
Good taste and respect of the history the insignia stand for, the memories of those that served under such emblems and very often died, would be my personal thoughts and desires to uphold.
 
Someone else may have other thoughts on the actually legal copyright issue. With certain outfits long since deactivated, how do 'they' persue such a legal claim? There surviving veterans association perhaps?
 
Its enough of a minefield in modern day copyright issues on written works, photos, publications of modern media etc. Errrrr...... I'd not like to jump on this band wagon and try and make an issue of it!!!
 
Ian W
 

Ian White - 305th BGMA Hon. Life Associate, UK Contact and Organiser of next years 40th Combat Wing UK Reunion - May 21st-31st 2009

The context is that i am producing a short film about the 448thBG and so was thinking of using the eighth air force insignia (white star with a red dot on blue background with gold wings) in banners for a web page and would be showing it in the film too if only incidently. Perhaps i should steer clear of the squadron insignia which depict disney-like characters.....

Evan,

If in fact Squadron/Group DUI were produced by Disney - or whoever - I'd think it would be a simple enough thing to contact whatever entity holds the copyright/trademark with a request that you be allowed to use an image of the DUI(s) in your video; easy enough to ask - no telling how long to get a response. 

I'd also think that if the international copyright/trademark symbols were not an integral part of the DUI you - as a reasonable person - would be able to assume that the DUI is not copyrighted/trademarked.

See http://www.copyrightauthority.com/copyright-symbol/ for some copyright/trademark information.

Andy

The 8th AF logo as well as many other numbered logos are readily availabe for purchase already digitized for embroidery.   We have sold a number of different AF logos embroidered hats.  Many of them are considered public domain ... as a matter of fact, there are many photos published on web sites relative the the Air Force are public domain.

Jerry
S/Sgt. USAF Radio Operator '52-'56
C-119 "Flying Boxcar"

cousin of T/Sgt. Frank Hrehocik RO/Gunner
381st BG - 533rd BS

381st BGMA LTM

Volunteer - National Museum of the US Air Force

And your film will be available when?

Tom
Son of Lt. Thomas B Horton
448th BG 714th

As to officially approved emblems, some that were approved as late as the 1950s were designed by various cartoonists.  Most of these copyrights were either assigned or licensed to the US Government.  Combat Squadrons of the Air Force cites Walt Disney Productions, Milt Caniff, United Feature Syndicate, and a predecessor of Time-Warner for doing so.  On the other hand, Walt Kelly refused permission for the Air Force to use the emblem of the 782nd Bombardment Sq (Albert the Alligator).  For dear old Walt's successors, heirs, and assigns and for the owners of those designs licensed to the USAF, they should hold the copyrights.  For emblems designed within the DOD, and for those assigned to the USAF, the USAF holds the copyrights.  In an interesting sidelight, if a squadron is active, the squadron commander has control of the copyright (even if the emblem is older than he/she is).
 
Copyright law includes a "fair use" doctrine.  If you are not planning to profit from your use, there should be little to worry about.  If you are concerned, you could ask the AFHRA at Maxwell AFB for permission to use the emblems in question.  A number of web pages that display unit emblems contain claims that all material on their web page is copyrighted by the web page.  It ain't.
 
Unofficial emblems are a different matter.  Snoopy was very popular in Viet Nam, but I doubt anyone asked Schulz for permission.  A couple of rescue units used the Jolly Green Giant and that has been carried over into official emblems, so I imagine that the food company involved has given its permission, but that's a trademark.

Bernie Shearon
Push the stick forward, the houses get bigger. Pull the stick back, the houses get smaller (unless you keep pulling -- then they get bigger again)