Adressed 2 Jafo

I'm not Jafo but I'll jump in anyway. You have to get the written permission of the actual artist saying you can upload it or modify and upload it before uploading it. You cannot upload it without that permission no matter how many times you say who really created it. Once you have the permission you upload the skin/wall in a zip with the permission inluded in a text file usually called permission.txt

MrGupps, whether crediting the original author or not, whether linking to original authors web page or not, and whether you changed the image or not, you MUST have the authors consent before the fact... original author permission is always needed and must be displayed in a file with the wallpaper, or skin in question, if you do not have the authors permission, you can not upload it. It's like saying I stole your car, but I put across the side of the car "MrGupps Car" everyone in the world would know it's your car, but do you really want me driving it... I did steal it, I never asked if I could take it... does that make sense to you, or do you need me to clarify somemore... if you have any more qustions Jafo should be here shortly. Unless he's busy pressing the exile button... j/k

thanx for that clarification da_zman. Fortunatly in Jafo's e-mail he didnt say anything about exiling but he did mention keeping me under a close watch. Folks of wincustomize dont worry it wont happen again.

MrGupps....the reason we give 'a second chance' before exiling is for people such as yourself who are unaware exactly what protocol MUST be observed if and when posting work that originated from another person.

Below is my 'standard' email that is often [very] used to 'convince' people to remove works they do not have actual permission to post....

It appears that you are displaying numerous wallpaper images and skins on your site originally created by authors other than yourself.
Although images are freely available for download on the Internet, they are EXPRESSLY for personal use, which does not include the reproduction and redistribution of them via another site such as yours.
The modification, and/or re-distribution of an artist's images without his/her express permission is in violation of the Artist's Copyright, and is pursuable in law.

Whether these images link to the original artist's site or not, or whether the Original artist is credited or not, without prior permission to display such, you are in violation of inherent and/or expressed copyright.

I strongly suggest you remove any such images for which you do not have permission to display via verification of aurthor, and minimize the potential for litigation against you and subsequent claims for loss.

I await your favourable response.

Paul Martin
Jafo
[Admin...Wincustomize.com]
[Admin...Pixtudio.com]
[Senior Member...Deviantart.com]

Really, it's all a matter of common sense, respect, and trustworthiness.

One is trusted to respect anothers work with common sense.

jake....not everyone understands the concept of 'copyright' and how distribution via public upload nearly always is in breach of that...

Jafo : Speaking of copyright issues. What about Windows-fonts ? I want to use Wingdings and different Webdings for special purposes. Am I allowed to do that and distribute work on that basis ? I am not quite sure about that.

I think there is something about that on the site whee you download the webdings/webfonts...

Fonts are actually one of the worst things ripped off, for DTP purposes and people really were getting upset a few years back when we were doing a restaurant magazine for up sales of liquor and such...

I say we, but it was my wife doing it, I just looked over her layouts and made suggestions.
She also did a local realistate mag for that period of time neither made any money beyond paying for themselves to keep in operation, which is pretty muchthe same with all start ups from what I've heard and read?

anyway...

c242...fonts are often an 'issue'....but if a font is used in context, eg as a particular specified font to use in a skin, if it's included with the skin then ascertain it is for public distribution and not a 'purchased' one.
If the latter, post a link to its lawful DL site rather than distribute it without authority.

Microsoft's fonts as included with the OS would tend to be regarded in a similar vein to their Icons....OK to use in 'context', not OK to use in an illegitimate function.....like using a PSP icon to launch/shortcut an Adobe product.....the PSP icon would be OK for a PSP proggy launcher, but not another company's proggy...

c242, fonts are the same. Although Windowblinds now lets you include the fonts with you skin, you can only distribute freeware fonts accordingly with its authors distribution licence. Some font artists allow you to distribute the font as long as you credit him, etc.
Commercial fonts are a big no no.

As for Wingdings and Webding, I wouldn't bother including them, they come with Windows anyway. And no, you could not distribute them anyway.

i understand u clearly Jafo but

#4 by Jafo - 3/14/2003 6:02:27 PM
MrGupps....the reason we give 'a second chance' before exiling is for people such as yourself who are unaware exactly what protocol MUST be observed if and when posting work that originated from another person.


It appears that you are displaying numerous wallpaper images and skins on your site originally created by authors other than yourself.

When have i displayed a piece of work created by someone else? (besides flourescence) you said NUMEROUS, all my other work that i tried to post was original. And "skins on your site" i dont have my own site.

I usderstand my mistakes and u will not see me make the same ones. But please clarify waht u stated in the first line of the second paragraph post #4

MrGupps...as I said...it's a standard letter used to approach many sites and/or individuals.....just read paragraph 2 again, OK?

i c srry for that misnderstandin Jafo

You will not see me posting any work that isnt mine

Paxx: I suspect what c242 is gettng at is the use of a specific character in the font used as an image. ie in Thredz to make the pictures for the shellstyles I took a character from webdings, enlarged it in Coreldraw, applied extra layers of shapes to make it look 3D. Is this fair use? The actual font doesn't get distributed but the 'shape' used in the first place is still recognisable in the final product.

Yes exactly pj ! That's what I wanted to know !

Ah....that's a tricky one, then.
Almost 'fair use' but perhaps not...

To be a little more specific : http://www.c242dx.de/Screens/DoOrDont.jpg

*bump* - Sorry I just have to know...

c242....realistically speaking, I'd say they were reasonably 'OK'....sufficiently 'different' to be acceptable...

Thanks, You saved my day.

Well, no, there is no problem then.
It's no different from using any specific font in any image. As long as a font is legally owned by the designer, he can use any font in any designs he makes and distribute. He's just not allowed to distribute the font itself.