: Use of old ads in a book There will be approximately one dozen images scheduled to appear in my upcoming book. These are, in the majority, old ads from various clients, industries and campaigns

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Unauthorized use of copyrighted material is (in the United States) a violation of federal law.

Don't do it.

Get a lawyer. Get permission.

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Can you ask someone at the advertising company you worked for? Surely they know who owns the copyrights, and can give you their contact information. You do not want to get sued by a big company, so you'd better check up to make sure. Anything produced in your lifetime is still under copyright unless it was formally released into the public domain, which seems very unlikely for ads.

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You should be safe on legal footing, assuming that the copyrights were not assigned to your clients or that you don't have contractual obligations to request permission from the clients to use these works.

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As well as being a writer, I am a graphic designer and sign maker. I photograph the signs I make and include those photos and also images of logos I have designed, in my advertising materials: Web site, pamphlets, catalogue, and signs. In that regard, if I have read your question properly, I am doing much the same as you.

Unless you have assigned the copyright to the company you designed
the ad for, then the copyright for the design remains with you;
in any case, it is highly unlikely that a business is going to take
legal action against you for advertising their goods or services at
no cost to themselves.

Unless I have misunderstood your question, if it were me, I wouldn't worry about it - you are doing them a favour.

Kind regards, James

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