Depicting postage stamps

In the Netherlands, images of an organization or photographer fall under the Copyright Act.
This year the new Copyright Act has entered into force, which stipulates that postage stamps and their images are also covered by that law. These are specifically mentioned in Articles 7 and 38. It seems that we are no longer allowed to use images of stamps, but fortunately a provision has been made for this with a number of exceptions.
For example, images of postage stamps and postal stationery may be used but at a maximum of 2/3 or at least 1½ times the original size, so that they show a clear difference in dimensions.

2/3 of scanned size

Scanned size - actual width is 42 mm (deliberately blurred)

1½ times scanned size

However, calculating the size of images is not something everyone masters, and anyone who has ever done enlargements or size reductions on a copier knows that strange numbers appear on the display when you try to print something at half size. This is because enlarging or reducing images is not shown in percent but in percentage.
But, fortunately, there is another exemption: Publication of a design of a postage stamp or the postage stamp itself can be realized without the permission of the copyright owner if it concerns an announcement (publication in a newsletter about new stamps), a review, topic of discussion or scholarly dissertation. PFFFFH. That gives peace of mind.
This for your information.

Hans de Kloet

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