Posted By:
davidcyclebackI should add that, from the practical side, it is less likely that someone will get into copyright trouble for reprinting old stuff,like T206s. There are two sides to copyrights: 1) Whether or not there is a copyright to be broken and 2) Whether or not there is a rights holder who will complain (Sorry, 3rd parties, like collectors, have say in the matter). Even if there are copyrights technically broken in making reprints of T206s, it seems unlikely (I didn't say impossible) that a rights holder will object.
If there is objection from rights holders, it would likely come from a MLB or a MLB team, the estate of a famous player or, possibly, a product maker (The tobacco companies who made Sweet Caporal & Piedmont still exist).