Expert: Rene Hasekamp - 3/11/2008

Question
My question concerns collectible card games, such as for example "Magic the gathering". As you probably know, each of these games consists of a unique set of cards (most of the hundreds of them), and it is up to the players to collect these cards and decide which ones to use during play.

Now, suppose I would like to make a website which contains scanned images of these cards, as well as other information on the game itself. The images and info on this site would be free to view, however I would like to earn money form the adds displayed on this site.

Would I be violating copyrights? If so who do I have to ask for permission to do such a thing?

Answer
I ma not really a copyright expert, but the following seems completely correct to me:

If there still is any copyright on (the images on) the cards, you would violate that copyright by scanning and publishing the cards on the web. You would need permission (a license) from the copyright owner.
I do not know who that is. I also am not familiar with these cards.

Hope this helps.

Rene Hasekamp