Rights to card images

I'm sorry to start a new topic about this, but it encompasses a couple of things being discussed here. The "only one example" and "reprints" makes me wonder who has "ownership" of the image of the lone type? It's garbage that these image thieves can profit from the sale of someone else's card image. Are these considered public domain? I needn't worry about it happening to me, but it chaps my backside to see this piracy take place.

To the best of my knowledge, I believe these images are not protected under any copyright law unfortunately. I have seen many sellers/dealers/collectors place their "name" or "handle" on their images on their websites to prevent this type of activity however (as well as people trying to sell a card they do not own).

Thank you Scott. I suspected as much. I figured if you posted something on-line anywhere it was up for grabs. If I owned, say, the Just So Young, and I saw its "twin" for sale, someone would have trouble coming. Thanks again!

That is where it might get sticky (owning a one of a kind card). One "might" have a case then. However, I still believe the law states you may own the card but NOT the image.

An image can be copyrighted, but that probably takes more effort than it's worth. Plus, it's usually not worth the effort to go after the person using your photo. Think you have to prove that they are making money just because of your image. Therefore even a copyrighted photo could be pasted on this forum or passed to friends. And if someone is using it to sell fakes, it would probably be easier to bust them for fraud. Hope this is right - law stuff is always confusing.