English: Press photo of 2-timeOscar-winning actress Dame Maggie Smith c1970 (late '60s/early '70s), published and distributed during the free domain period (prior to 1977), for the intent of publicity.
The photo has no copyright markings on it as can be seen in the link above and in the copy of the file showing the back, uploaded separately (as was done in the eBay source link above.
See also w:film still article, which explains that publicity photos were traditionally not copyrighted.
No copyright registered for this photo.
It was created for publicity purposes-distribution to the media and the image was meant to bring attention and publicity for actors and actresses. See also w:film still article.
Film production expert Eve Light Honathaner in The Complete Film Production Handbook, (Focal Press, 2001 p. 211.):
"Publicity photos (star headshots) have traditionally not been copyrighted. Since they are disseminated to the public, they are generally considered public domain, and therefore clearance by the studio that produced them is not necessary."
"There is a vast body of photographs, including but not limited to publicity stills, that have no notice as to who may have created them." (The Professional Photographer's Legal Handbook By Nancy E. Wolff, Allworth Communications, 2007, p. 55.)
"Publicity Photos (star headshots) older publicity stills have usually not been copyrighted and since they have been disseminated to the public, they are generally considered public domain and therefore there is no necessity to clear them with the studio that produced them (if you can even determine who did)."
United States Copyright Office page 2 "Visually Perceptible Copies The notice for visually perceptible copies should contain all three elements described below. They should appear together or in close proximity on the copies.
2 The year of first publication. If the work is a derivative work or a compilation incorporating previously published material, the year date of first publication of the derivative work or compilation is sufficient. Examples of derivative works are translations or dramatizations; an example of a compilation is an anthology. The year may be omitted when a pictorial, graphic, or sculptural work, with accompanying textual matter, if any, is reproduced in or on greeting cards, postcards, stationery, jewelry, dolls, toys, or useful articles.
Dieses Werk ist in den Vereinigten Staaten gemeinfrei, weil es in den Vereinigten Staaten zwischen 1929 und 1977, einschließlich, ohne Copyright-Vermerkveröffentlicht wurde. Sofern der Autor nicht schon eine hinreichende Zeit tot ist, ist es in den Ländern oder Gebieten, die den Schutzfristenvergleich nicht anwenden, wie Kanada (70 pma), China (50 pma, nicht Hongkong oder Macao), Deutschland (70 pma), Mexiko (100 pma), Schweiz (70 pma), urheberrechtlich geschützt. Weitere Erläuterungen auf dieser Seite.
Sofern der Urheber dieses Werkes nicht seit mindestens 70 Jahren tot ist, ist das Werk in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz – außer es greifen andere Regelungen – urheberrechtlich geschützt, da der Schutzfristenvergleich nicht angewendet wird. Daher darf diese Datei in deutschsprachigen Wikimedia-Projekten wie der Wikipedia oder dem Wiktionary möglicherweise nicht verwendet werden. Siehe zur Verwendung unbedingt Wikipedia:Bildrechte! Falls danach nicht zulässig, müssen die Einbindungen entfernt werden.
Diese Datei enthält weitere Informationen (beispielsweise Exif-Metadaten), die in der Regel von der Digitalkamera oder dem verwendeten Scanner stammen. Durch nachträgliche Bearbeitung der Originaldatei können einige Details verändert worden sein.