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Re: Aqua icons from system fonts
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Re: Aqua icons from system fonts


  • Subject: Re: Aqua icons from system fonts
  • From: John Stiles <email@hidden>
  • Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 11:27:17 -0800

If you rasterize the text into pixel form, you're perfectly safe. It's only when you start distributing the bezier-curves-and-control-points data (i.e. a TTF file) that you run into legal issues.


On Dec 10, 2004, at 10:24 AM, Andrew Merenbach wrote:

As part of the Webdings font, I also found it interesting that UnicodeChecker allowed for two other font variations--Wingdings and MonoType Sorts, and sometimes others. (Although I had a heck of a time getting any of the symbols into Photoshop CS--some Unicode support may be there, but even setting the font to Webdings (for which it showed Regular mode), it displayed a completely different symbol. I had to make an alpha-channel TIFF from the character and then manipulate *that* in PS to get it to work.

With regard to the legality issue, I searched the MS web site and found the following:
<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/learnmore/tips/ usewebdings.mspx>


They ordain the use of Webdings and such fonts in Windows Movie Maker movies, and says nothing about copyright infringement if those movies are distributed. (I also don't see how what OS platform it is would affect things.)

On the other hand, they do say on one of their copyright pages that certain MS fonts, including Webdings, are not available for redistribution.

My logic, though, would be--and correct me if I'm wrong--that it would be perfectly legal for me to display the characters _as text_ in my toolbar by referencing the font. It's a small step to draw the font at runtime into an NSImage and then stylise it slightly, *then* on-the-fly insert it into the toolbar. And from there it's a short step to enhancing the glyph in an image editor and bundling it with the program, since it's only a couple of characters, rather than a usable representation of the entire font.

But if it's the bundling that's the copyright issue, this means, then, that I can indeed generate the glyph as an image on-the-fly (at runtime) and insert it (after applying whatever code-based transformations and enhancements I desire) into my toolbar, since it would be identical in effect to using the text in the toolbar itself? (And if I am wrong, that very last one--using the text characters themselves--is still unquestionably _legal_, isn't it?)

If it comes down to it, I may have to consult a lawyer, but it seems that a quick study of the issues of precedent and fair use could supersede a need for the time, effort, or money involved.

Cheers,
	Andrew

On 10 Dec 2004, at 07:10, glenn andreas wrote:


On Dec 10, 2004, at 12:55 AM, Andrew Merenbach wrote:

Whilst looking for free toolbar icons for my program, I stumbled in UnicodeChecker upon one of Apple's <private use> areas that has hundreds of symbols that would (with some aquification or other enhancements) be perfect for toolbars. A paper tray with an up arrow and one with a down arrow would be an excellent choice, in my first impression, for import and export features.

I've read through previous postings, but haven't found much about using such symbols in our icons. Is there any reason not to, provided that we can stylise them to appear a nice part of the interface?

Cheers,
	Andrew Merenbach

P.S.: For those who wish to examine the symbols, I used UnicodeChecker (www.earthlingsoft.net) and have been examining the range that includes Decimal 61650 and 61651 (hex F0D2 and F0D3), for the trays. The rest of the symbols appear fairly contiguous about that region.

If you look with the Character palette, you'll discover that those are just glyphs found in the WebDings font (and not some super secret hidden magic pictures). As such, it would be no different than taking glyphs from any other font, enhancing them, and using them in a toolbar. Now, is this a "derived work" or "fair use" (especially if you just use one or two)? Looking at the font (/Library/Fonts/Webdings) reveals:


"Copyright: Copyright (c) 1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved."

So if you really want to be safe, you'll need to determine (and probably with a laywer) if using a modified version of the these glyphs is a derived work or fair use, and if it is the former, you'll need to contact Microsoft for permission.


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References: 
 >Aqua icons from system fonts (From: Andrew Merenbach <email@hidden>)
 >Re: Aqua icons from system fonts (From: glenn andreas <email@hidden>)
 >Re: Aqua icons from system fonts (From: Andrew Merenbach <email@hidden>)

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