Because figuring that out has become too complex.
Take the Wagner he modified. Being 101 years old a Wagner T206 should be public domain and just fine to reprint along with all the other T206s. And yet....the text removed was a copyright notice and a licensing notice from Wagners estate. Add to that the possibility(99.9% sure) that the original Wagners were unlicensed and that possibly the owner of a particular Wagner would have some legal control over images of the physical item. All of it makes for a mess that only an IP lawyer would like.
Anyone consider reporting his "aging" to Wagners estate? I wonder what their take on it would be. Likely at least one letter "educating" him about removing their copyright notice and producing a derivative work. Just like that place in the 90's that made 3d cards from laser cut Topps and Donruss cards. They were gone before I had a chance to buy one once the big companies lawyers got involved.
Steve B
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