Use of other artists work.....

from WinCustomize Forums
Can I remind everyone that you can NOT use another artists work as a background in a DesktopX theme unless you have permission from the artist. I have just removed a theme from the site that used another artists work, (it didn't help that the image belonged to ME!) so I am reminding everyone that it's o.k. to use OBJECTS by other artists in your themes (that is what they are for), but NOT wallpapers or other artwork.
We must respect authors copyright. Thank you for listening.
2,405 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I still don't really understand why it's okay to use other author's objects though. Why do copyright restrictions not apply there?
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Same as grayhaze... Using other people's objects is like using other people's graphics for a different skin, crediting them or not, but without asking their consent.
Otherwise, you just download a bunch of cute objects, package them together, and voilà, you've made a theme you can upload? Not fair...
CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Desktop X philosophy is, that it is okay to use other author's DX-objects as long as the author-info remains untouched. Of course Boxxi is right about the wallpapers and other stuff... I have a theme that will remain unreleased because I never could reach the author of the icons I used in there...
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
In my case, there's no problem if some peopple uses my work, also if them make changes (color changes and othres). Only, the new aothor needs to respect my work, and the work of others authors, and say that the theme is created with other authors job.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
DesktopX objects are designed to be used in themes. I'll have to find the documents originally created but if you upload an object, you are in essence giving permission for others to include it in a theme. If this is a problem, don't upload the object. (I don't mean this harshly at all, just that DX objects are designed to be shared - I've uploaded a LOT of DX objects I've made and expect them to be used by others in their themes).

DesktopX objects are designed to be portable and used as much as possible. For this purpose, there is a summary page where the author can put in their information which is stored as part of the object.

When I upload my objects, I am doing so to help others be able to create cool themes that they can then share and that I download. It's almost like an open source scenario where I am submitting some useful functions and others are taking those functions to create a wider program with it that I can then download and use.

But we do need to be more explicit about the rules regarding DX objects. Anything other than DX objects require the *explicit* permission of the author to be allowed on this site. If the developer of a given application feels otherwise they need to contact us and let us know where they have informed users of this.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Listen to Frogboy....