Question about sharing files I downloaded

[papasue]

Mel, that was my original assumption but since I'd been chastised for reposting I thought it safer to ask first. I hope that the other svg designers join in with their opinion. A lot of folks share their svg files with no mention of "resharing" them.

[jancy]

But the question still is: who "owns" the svg file? The clip art provider or the Inkscape person you cut it up?

If this is the way it is then everyone who posts an svg file should say where the original image came from don't you think?

there is no difinitive answer.

it depends on the copyright held for the image. if the artist of the image permits anything at all, then the one that makes the file would probably "own" the file since it's an altered form of the original artwork.

now, if it's a Disney image you're talking about, I'm sure the legal team for Disney would beg to differ on someone laying claim to any image or file or ANYTHING that derives from a Disney image of any sorts.

it's just common courtesy not to repost anytype of artwork--sb files or otherwise--that you did not make yourself. a link to the original work is in line with sharing the file.

[wreed06]

I do not think that someone who simply breaks apart or otherwise separates an image so that it can be cut in SCAL should be considered the "author" or "owner" of the original work. They should follow the copyright rules set forth by the original author. Yes, there have been a lot of abuses on these boards. It's hard because some of the designs are popular and in great demand. Yet it is up to us to uphold the copyright as best as we can. If we can't find a copyright statement either way, we should probably assume that it is copyrighted.

Items I have uploaded are in the public domain and each artist gives up his/her claim to any copyright. I clearly stated that when I started my uploads and have continued to state it as I upload additional images and as people have asked.

[AnointedHands]

Question?

If I, a excellent graphic artist, draws a character that looks like Mickey Mouse or any other cartoon character, would that be considered copyright infringement?

If so, how are there so many shapes and characters on the Internet that look like Disney characters? Did everyone who has created a character get permission to create Disney look-alike characters?

I am hoping someone can answer that for me or point me to the correct place to find it.

[papasue]

Ok, by some of these comments then I ask if someone posts an svg file and then someone else enhances it so that it will be easier to cut and has then again altered the original has that person violated a "perceived" copyright of the original publisher or do they own the new version?

[papasue]

I do not think that someone who simply breaks apart or otherwise separates an image so that it can be cut in SCAL should be considered the "author" or "owner" of the original work. They should follow the copyright rules set forth by the original author. Yes, there have been a lot of abuses on these boards. It's hard because some of the designs are popular and in great demand. Yet it is up to us to uphold the copyright as best as we can. If we can't find a copyright statement either way, we should probably assume that it is copyrighted.

Items I have uploaded are in the public domain and each artist gives up his/her claim to any copyright. I clearly stated that when I started my uploads and have continued to state it as I upload additional images and as people have asked.

Wreed, since you are so gracious with your help are you saying that any of your files could be reused, repurposed, and edited and then reposted?

[AnointedHands]

Ok, by some of these comments then I ask if someone posts an svg file and then someone else enhances it so that it will be easier to cut and has then again altered the original has that person violated a "perceived" copyright of the original publisher or do they own the new version?

Many copyrights state that you cannot alter the image. In other words, if you get a file from The Wishblading Well and it is a gsd file, you can not convert the image to svg and post it to the board. And you can not post the gsd file to the board either. That I understand. The WBW would have no way of knowing that you converted the file to svg for your personal use...however, don't post it to boards.

[NurseMel]

I totally understand the copyright infringement, but I think this is more about a simple file.

A file that was uploaded to the board i.e. a simple apron taken from an uncopyrighted image. I think that Sue has a copy of this file and given that it cannot be located on the board now, she wants to share it with someone who has requested it.

Aside from the copyright issue, which I don't think applies here, I think the question is that if someone posted a file quite a while ago, and it has now become buried and cannot be located, if Sue wants to post this file for someone else to use, whilst acknowledging it was posted by someone else and that it was not her file, isn't that okay? After all the original file was posted to be shared? I know I share my files with an expectation that they will be downloaded by others to be used.

If I have something I do not want to be used by others, then I don't post it. I realise it is not right nor fair to download someone elses file, whether it be SVG or GSD or any other type, edit it around and then claim it as your own and share it around.

Maybe I'm looking at this too simply.
Mel

[NurseMel]

Okay I think I found the original post, so maybe this can help in this situation.

http://forums.surecutsalot.com/viewtopi ... =23&t=1527

I did a search for Apron...nothing. Then I searched Tags ...BINGO

Hope this helps,
Mel

[wreed06]

papasue,
The copyright information for files I've uploaded on these boards is available at http://www.openclipart.org/. In part, they say "Dedicator recognizes that, once placed in the public domain, the Work may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, used, modified, built upon, or otherwise exploited by anyone for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, and in any way, including by methods that have not yet been invented or conceived."

Specific to the files I uploaded (Releases 15 and 18) from http://openclipart.org/media/downloads the copyright statement at the bottom of the pages says "The clip art on this website and part of this project are released into the public domain."

I hope that answers your questions.

AnnointedHands,
I am no lawyer, but I seriously do not think that you infringe upon copyright laws if you are originally hand drawing (or computer drawing) existing images if you do not trace or digitally duplicate them. This is just my opinion. I guess we could do a little Google research.

NurseMel,
I agree with you that if an image got lost on these forums that it would be ok to repost it with explanation. That is exactly why it is a good idea to use the SVG categories. As you discovered, it would have been helpful to have "apron" in the text or even better in the subject for searching abilities. If the file is known, however, it would probably be best to post a link to that file.