Public Domain & Copyright Policy

Last updated: February 2026

Postcard Messages exists to preserve and share handwritten messages from historical postcards. This page explains our approach to copyright and public domain.

1. What We Archive

Our focus is the handwritten messages on the backs of postcards, primarily from the period 1880-1929. These personal messages represent a unique window into everyday life, relationships, and communication of the past.

2. Why Handwriting Is Generally Not Copyrightable

Copyright law protects original creative expression. However, most handwritten postcard messages consist of:

• Brief personal greetings and updates
• Factual statements about travel, weather, or health
• Addresses and dates
• Common phrases and expressions

Such content typically lacks the originality required for copyright protection. Additionally, for postcards from 1929 and earlier, any copyright that may have existed has long since expired under U.S. law.

3. Contributor Responsibilities

When you upload a postcard back to Postcard Messages, you certify that:

• The postcard appears to be from the historical period (generally pre-1930) and is likely in the public domain
• You are not claiming copyright ownership over the handwritten content
• You have no reason to believe the content infringes on anyone's rights
• If the postcard contains potentially sensitive information about identifiable living individuals, you will not upload it

4. Front Images (Artwork)

The front of postcards often contains artwork, photographs, or designs that may have different copyright considerations than the handwritten messages. For this reason:

• Front images are optional
• Front images are used for context only
• We do not reproduce postcard artwork for commercial purposes
• Front images are not the focus of our archive

5. Provenance Matters

We maintain detailed records of where content comes from. Every upload includes:

• Who contributed it (user account)
• When it was contributed
• The dealer or source (if applicable)
• Complete edit history for transcriptions

This provenance chain helps researchers verify authenticity and trace the history of each item in our collection.

6. AI Transparency

We use AI to assist with transcription and metadata extraction. All AI-generated content is:

• Clearly labeled as AI-generated
• Human-reviewable and reversible
• Stored alongside original contributions for comparison

7. Takedown Requests

If you believe any content in our archive infringes on your rights, please contact us at [email protected] with:

• Identification of the content in question
• Your claim of rights
• Your contact information

We will review all legitimate requests promptly.

8. Using Archive Content

Transcriptions and metadata in our archive are provided for research, educational, and genealogical purposes. While we believe the underlying handwritten content is in the public domain, users should:

• Cite Postcard Messages as a source when using our transcriptions
• Conduct their own due diligence for commercial uses
• Respect the historical individuals whose words we preserve

9. Questions

For questions about copyright or public domain status, contact [email protected].