Other people's images...

May 22, 2003 10:48 PM from

Ok, so I'm making a windowblinds skin, but im wondering, is it alright to use someone elses graphics as kind of a guide for your own. This is my first real skin! So far I've been really original I think, but I'd like to borrow an idea from someone, not copy their images and claim their mine, dont get me wrong. So I'm wondering, what are the unwritten rules with this?

4,303 views 9 replies

Reply #1 May 22, 2003 10:52 PM from

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Chi Chi...if you like, there are 'written rules'....it's all about copyrights and obtaining prior consent from the original artist/author...

Reply #2 May 22, 2003 10:53 PM from

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If you 'borrow' an idea or graphics from another artist, just contact them first and discuss whether they are OK with you uploading it publicly...

Reply #3 May 22, 2003 11:04 PM from

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I dont want to copy images, i want to use an idea. Thats it. I wouldnt be "tracing" the images or copying and pasting, just using them more or less for inspiration. Get me? It's not like I'm freehand copying a picasso, i just want to paint a cubism painting. Does that make sense?

Reply #4 May 22, 2003 11:08 PM from

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Since this is not an academic case, maybe you can give us some screen shots of both skins. That would make things easier.

Reply #5 May 22, 2003 11:17 PM from

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Well I havent done anything yet. But I can describe it. Pretty much my idea is to put a pill shape on my scroll bar like in pixos and i think one of mormegils skins. Every other idea ive tried looks horrible on the scroll bars. I like that idea and that's all I really want to do. The reast of my skin is sorta glass-ish or aqua-ish so i wanted to incorporate that into my scroll bars. I suppose I mean apple did it first as far as i can tell so i dont see why i cant borrow an appeared to be borrowed idea. But im just making sure.

Reply #6 May 22, 2003 11:29 PM from

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Chi Chi....the best advice you can get....when in doubt...ask.

IF an idea is to be 'borrowed' from another...just let them know...it surely isn't going to hurt...it can only benefit you.

Many people make use of 'bits' in many ways....but all they do is check first and all is well...

Reply #7 May 22, 2003 11:34 PM from

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I'm really not worried about it. I just didn't want to get anyones panties in a knot. Im being paranoid. Thanks though.

Reply #8 May 23, 2003 5:15 AM from

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ChiChi, the PixOS scrollbar is straight out from the Mac OS X, so don't worry about that particular part.

But in general, getting inspiration from other skins is OK, everybody does it to some point. As long as it doesn't look like the original. Basically, if you can show it to somebody and he can say "Hey, this looks like the Blabla skin" then you got inspired too much and should ask for permission.

Reply #9 May 23, 2003 1:38 PM from

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, I'm not worried about that. My skin doesnt look anything like any particular skin I think. Thanks people.

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