diff --git a/include/exiv2/types.hpp b/include/exiv2/types.hpp
index 32725694..c6b1afe2 100644
--- a/include/exiv2/types.hpp
+++ b/include/exiv2/types.hpp
@@ -205,13 +205,6 @@ namespace Exiv2 {
          */
         void resize(long size);
 
-        /*!
-          @brief Release ownership of the buffer to the caller. Returns the
-                 buffer as a data pointer and size pair, resets the internal
-                 buffer.
-         */
-        EXV_WARN_UNUSED_RESULT std::pair<byte*, long> release();
-
         //! Reset value
         void reset();
         //@}
diff --git a/src/types.cpp b/src/types.cpp
index f7aba2cb..dc7981a9 100644
--- a/src/types.cpp
+++ b/src/types.cpp
@@ -183,14 +183,6 @@ namespace Exiv2 {
         size_ = size;
     }
 
-    EXV_WARN_UNUSED_RESULT std::pair<byte*, long> DataBuf::release()
-    {
-        std::pair<byte*, long> p = {pData_, size_};
-        pData_ = nullptr;
-        size_ = 0;
-        return p;
-    }
-
     void DataBuf::reset()
     {
         delete[] pData_;