Yes—this is a real lab-applied handling tab, not part of the film itself. Photofinishers used it to help feed, cut, file, and handle negative strips in printing machines. It’s attached only along the film edge, so it normally doesn’t affect the image area.

If you want it off, work very carefully. These tabs are often folded around the film edge, with one side not fully adhered; gently unfold that side and peel slowly with minimal force. Some people simply tear or peel the paper away carefully.

That said, there’s usually no strong reason to remove the glued portion, and forcing it risks damage—especially with older negatives. A safer compromise is to trim only the loose paper down to the film edge with scissors and leave the adhered part in place.

Avoid solvents, soaking, or aggressive scraping, as those could damage the film or emulsion.