English: This is a press photo from 1937 of Oscar-winning actor Donald Crisp, published and distributed by Warner Bros. & Vitaphone Pictures with the intent to promote publicity for actor/film; copyrights waived, permission granted for use in cinemas, magazine, newspapers, and other advertisements. It is believed to be public domain, because it falls between the gap year of 1928-1977 and/or because over 70 years have elapsed since it was produced.
The photo has no visible copyright markings, because it's concealed by a signed slip from the actor's autograph w/ a date verifying 70+ years, as can be seen in the link above; however, in the other copy of the file showing the production companies and description below the photo, it states that the copyright is waived so that cinemas may promote publicity, and its use in newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals, for the same intended purpose that the public domain motto eschews; uploaded separately (as was done in the eBay source link above).
See also w:film still article, which explains that publicity photos were traditionally not copyrighted.
Unsure if copyright is a registered/expired one of 70+ years, or if simply null and void due to the waiver.
It was created for publicity purposes-distribution to the media and the image was meant to bring attention and publicity for actors and actresses. See also w:film still article.
Film production expert Eve Light Honathaner in The Complete Film Production Handbook, (Focal Press, 2001 p. 211.):
"Publicity photos (star headshots) have traditionally not been copyrighted. Since they are disseminated to the public, they are generally considered public domain, and therefore clearance by the studio that produced them is not necessary."
"There is a vast body of photographs, including but not limited to publicity stills, that have no notice as to who may have created them." (The Professional Photographer's Legal Handbook By Nancy E. Wolff, Allworth Communications, 2007, p. 55.)
"Publicity Photos (star headshots) older publicity stills have usually not been copyrighted and since they have been disseminated to the public, they are generally considered public domain and therefore there is no necessity to clear them with the studio that produced them (if you can even determine who did)."
United States Copyright Office page 2 "Visually Perceptible Copies The notice for visually perceptible copies should contain all three elements described below. They should appear together or in close proximity on the copies.
2 The year of first publication. If the work is a derivative work or a compilation incorporating previously published material, the year date of first publication of the derivative work or compilation is sufficient. Examples of derivative works are translations or dramatizations; an example of a compilation is an anthology. The year may be omitted when a pictorial, graphic, or sculptural work, with accompanying textual matter, if any, is reproduced in or on greeting cards, postcards, stationery, jewelry, dolls, toys, or useful articles.
Este archivo se encuentra en el dominio público en los Estados Unidos porque fue publicado en ese país entre los años 1929 y 1977 (ambos incluidos) sin haber indicado un aviso de derechos de autor. A menos que su autor haya fallecido años antes, se mantiene bajo propiedad intelectual en los países o zonas que no aplican la regla del plazo más corto para las obras estadounidenses, como Canadá (50 años p.m.a.), China continental (50 años, a excepción de Hong Kong o Macao), Alemania (70), Suiza (70), México (100) y otros países con reglas particulares. Vea esta página y este diagrama como referencia e información.
Este material está en dominio público en los demás países donde el derecho de autor se extiende por 70 años (o menos) tras la muerte del autor.
También debes incluir una etiqueta de dominio público de los Estados Unidos para indicar por qué esta obra está en el dominio público en los Estados Unidos. Tenga en cuenta que algunos países tienen términos de derechos de autor más de 70 años: México tiene 100 años, Jamaica tiene 95 años, Colombia tiene 80 años, y Guatemala y Samoa tienen 75 años. Esta imagen puede no estar en el dominio público en estos países, que además no aplican la regla de corto plazo. Honduras tiene un derecho de autor general de 75, pero aplica la regla de corto plazo. Esto está sujeto a la leyes respectivas sobre los derechos intelectuales.