How legal is this?

[I_cant_login_again_grr]

Hi,

how legal is it if say somebody found an image online of an object and then converted it into an icon to use as a programs' icon?

Thanks. :rolleyes:

[ThemsAllTook]

It depends entirely on the restrictions set forth by the site hosting the image. Safest thing to is probably to ask the person who owns the rights to the image.

[OneSadCookie]

Illegal, unless you have the permission of the copyright owner to do so.

[I_cant_login_again_grr]

ya but...I just editted it in photoshop and my bf says it looks completely different o.o


it's perfect to be my icon too... :/

[Fenris]

Just ask them, most people would be happy to let you. :)

[sealfin]

I'm hardly a lawyer, but I'd suggest you take a look at the "ten copyright myths" (http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html) and the "introduction to copyright" (http://www.templetons.com/brad/copyright.html) pages; from what you've posted, it would seem that your situation would fall under section six of that latter page; to paraphrase...

If I make up my own icon, but base it on another work, my new work belongs to me.

False. U.S. Copyright law is quite explicit that the making of what are called "derivative works" -- works based or derived from another copyrighted work -- is the exclusive province of the owner of the original work.