Question about sharing files I downloaded

[papasue]

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

THANKS MEL, I posted the link to the "tags" for the board member who requested it. You're the best!

[papasue]

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.

WREED, sorry it doesn't. I understand the copyright issue of the original artwork being in the public domain. My question was about the .svg file that was created from it .... is it assumed to be copyrighted by the Inkscape designer de facto? I think not. The MB is a sharing site I thought and unless otherwise stated I had assumed that all files were copyright free to be again enhanced or reshared. Am I wrong here? - Papasue

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.

[jancy]

---WREED, sorry it doesn't. I understand the copyright issue of the original artwork being in the public domain. My question was about the .svg file that was created from it .... is it assumed to be copyrighted by the Inkscape designer de facto? I think not. The MB is a sharing site I thought and unless otherwise stated I had assumed that all files were copyright free to be again enhanced or reshared. Am I wrong here?Papasue---

if you question something that much--best not to post it or claim it as your own, etc.(not saying you do either, just sayin'...)

and just because you see clipart on a website that says you can use it for free, doesn't necessarily mean that you can use it at will, etc. there is a LOT of copyright infringement on the internet. countless clueless individuals will copy/paste an image & reuse it elsewhere on the web & not know they can't do that. this is a very tough situation.

use common sense & common courtesy.

[wreed06]

Susan, I do not understand your question. The public domain copyright information I gave you about the images I posted clearly say that the authors of the image gives up all rights to the images. The images live in public domain. Anybody and everybody can do anything they want to the images including altering them, posting them, printing them on garments for sale, etc. The author no longer can say "you can't do that" once they are in the public domain. The files I uploaded are .svg files. They are the *original* artwork. The authors made digital images in .svg and other formats, they did not copy those images from anything. Follow and read information from the links I gave you and I think you will find your answers there. All this is stated on the links I provided.

Is this getting closer to answering your question? I don't mean to confuse, etc. I was just trying to show how the images I uploaded are free from any kind of copyright.

[Mominct]

I would think unless the image is copyrighted, which in that case you shouldnt be tracing it in inkscape anyways its ok to share.

If I find a non copyrighted image and trace it in inkscape to save to an .svg does that make it "mine"? I would say no, unless I got a copyright for that specific image. Otherwise I could claim everyone I ever traced as "mine". I dont understand how when you draw something you can even say its copyrighted. Yes it's that persons drawing but a copyright isn't just putting your name on it. They have forms and all to be filled out, I dont think you can just say "I drew it and its copyrighted"... but I'm not 100% sure.

Thats my opinion on it and I havent found anything contrary to it. We really need a posting about the copyright laws, how to get a copyright etc so that way its clear. Maybe make it a sticky at the top.

We had a problem similar on ebay on an artists group. Someone drew something (a paper piecing) and someone else copied it. They tried to call copyright infringement but it wasn't legally copyrighted so they could do just that. She did go the long route and get her design copyrighted.. but just it being hers wasn't enough.

[wreed06]

Here's a link from the US Copyright Office that talks about how to get a registered copyright: http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html. Others on these boards have said you don't have to do that, that all you have to do is put "cc" next to your work and it's copyrighted. There is a lot more information available on the web about copyrights.

I don't think the debate here is on how to get work copyrighted though, I think it's more on how to determine whether images we find that we'd like to post are copyrighted. Unfortunately for that, there is no hard and fast rule. You just have to search for copyright language on the site where it's coming from, or better yet,from the original site if possible to find (and most of the time that is impossible), on packaging material, on other files associated with the file such as a ReadMe file. If there is no copyright language anywhere, an image is still not necessarily up for grabs, we still have to use our discrepancy about whether it is free for us to post or spread around. In such gray areas, perhaps providing a link to the file with a picture of what we did with it might be a better course of action.

[NurseMel]

Susan, I do not understand your question. The public domain copyright information I gave you about the images I posted clearly say that the authors of the image gives up all rights to the images. The images live in public domain. Anybody and everybody can do anything they want to the images including altering them, posting them, printing them on garments for sale, etc. The author no longer can say "you can't do that" once they are in the public domain. The files I uploaded are .svg files. They are the *original* artwork. The authors made digital images in .svg and other formats, they did not copy those images from anything. Follow and read information from the links I gave you and I think you will find your answers there. All this is stated on the links I provided.

Is this getting closer to answering your question? I don't mean to confuse, etc. I was just trying to show how the images I uploaded are free from any kind of copyright.

Hi Wreed,

I think that is exactly the cause of this confusion here, not so much the copyright issue, but the issue that so many people post files both here and elsewhere and say "THIS IS MINE" you cannot repost it, you cannot sell it, you cannot alter it.

I tend to err on the side of caution with this and live by the policy, if I don't want anyone to alter it or sell it etc, then I don't share it. I do have some files that I have spent days on making them just right and I know I would be upset if they turned up on a for sale site, hence I keep them to myself.

Thanks for a lively discussion all,
Mel

[wreed06]

Mel, I think that is a good approach, if you don't want something copied, re-posted, altered, etc. of work you have done, best not to post it. The probably certainly is not exclusive to this board, it is prevalent all across the web. We will never resolve the problem. But, we can respect one another's work and ask for permission for doing x,y,z as I think was the case at the beginning of the conversion (it's been awhile now, such that I forgot!).

As far as re-posting a lost file, there appears to be varying degrees of opinion here. Personally, I don't see it as a big deal as long as appropriate comments are made. But, others prefer a file never to be posted by anybody but the author unless it is explicitly permitted. So, maybe the answer is to not post or re-post things that don't meet the previously stated conditions. If that is the consensus, then please, please, please enter very meaningful and explicit words in the subjects of messages and in the body so that messages can be found. Please use the categories (as was the case in this discussion) in SVG and Designs and now SCUT so items can be found again. Funny how so many of us focused on finding "apron" or "apron tag" rather than on the second obvious choice of "tag". But maybe it's good to see the importance of subjects and words in the actual message body (not just as picture titles - I didn't realize that one!).

And with that, I am TOTALLY out of words on the copyright - re-posting issue! Ok, at least for today!

[papasue]

Wreed, between you and Mel I believe that we can now call this a "dead horse" and stop beating it.

I totally agree with both of you and hope others do too and start noting their preferences in the files they post. Also posting by specific type of file. Good idea too.

Thank you both so much for working on getting me an answer.

[papasue]

bump. I think this conversation is important to all who use thie MB