It contains a lot of copyrighted images or designs, can I use it legally? EDIT: SpriteLib GPL is a image library, it is not about GPL license. [Edited by - Nick123 on September 27, 2009 4:42:49 AM]

media is not covered under the GPL, but they may have a different license, so you may want to check.

Quote: Original post by Jroggy
media is not covered under the GPL, but they may have a different license, so you may want to check.

A few seconds of Google reveal that it is not using the GNU General Public License (what you first though of with GPL), but another general public license.


@ OP:
The content has full copyright and other legal protections.

Their license (and any other license, really) is offered to the general public for permissions to use it. The license does not affect those protections, it merely means the copyright holder is authorizing you to use it under certain conditions.


The license is quite clear. If you are uncomfortable with the technical language, just think back to when you were a beginning programmer trying to understand source code. It may take a little work to figure it out, but it should make sense if you really try to understand it. [grin]

They grant you certain rights (see the license section "GRANT OF RIGHTS") as long as you comply with their requirements (see the license section "REQUIREMENTS").

I mean, SpriteLib GPL(a collection of static and animated graphic objects), used a lot of copyrighted designs, are they all legal?
http://www.flyingyogi.com/fun/spritelib.html

Found on their website:
"Supports several complete game themes and includes objects for an Arkanoid™ clone, Combat™ clone, Space Invaders™ clone, Asteroids™ clone, 1942™ clone, Centipede™ clone and numerous others."

Quote: I mean, SpriteLib GPL(a collection of static and animated graphic objects), used a lot of copyrighted designs, are they all legal?

Yes, that is what I was referring to also.

That package has a license file inside it. Read it.

That license file tells you exactly what you can do with it.




I don't understand why you are asking if it is legal.

ALL computer graphics and ALL computer software are covered by copyright protections, unless explicitly put into the public domain by the copyright holder. You MUST have a license to use it if you didn't create it, or you MUST have documenation that was put into the public domain.

As long as you abide by the terms of the license (go read it) then you can use it.

Quote: Original post by frob
I don't understand why you are asking if it is legal.

I was told I cannot use any copyrighted game character designs without permissions, but that SpriteLib used lots of copyrighted designs from different games..

Quote: Original post by Nick123

Quote: Original post by frob
I don't understand why you are asking if it is legal.

I was told I cannot use any copyrighted game character designs without permissions, but that SpriteLib used lots of copyrighted designs from different games..

Based on that web site, it is the games that used the designs within the library, not the other way around.

If you are unsure, don't use them.

Quote: Original post by frob

Quote: Original post by Nick123

Quote: Original post by frob
I don't understand why you are asking if it is legal.

I was told I cannot use any copyrighted game character designs without permissions, but that SpriteLib used lots of copyrighted designs from different games..

Based on that web site, it is the games that used the designs within the library, not the other way around.

If you are unsure, don't use them.

Some of the designs(e.g. Fish Dish) are created by the author of the library(Ari Feldman, I have his book), some are definitely not(Space Invaders™, 1942™ etc).

I want to make sure if it is legal, and why it is legal. Maybe I can create a library that way too.

I don't think the OPs question relates to the license of the library but actually to the legality of creating the images that are included. Space Invaders and the other games mentioned are protected by copyright and these images are listed as being for "Space Invaders clones" etc so clearly they are derived from the original work. Given that fact the creator would need a license from the copyright owner to make and distribute them. You would need to check with the creator of the graphics to see if such a license exists.

I am going to guess that they don't have permission because, if such a license did exist, it would almost certainly require them to state in the documentation that the images are licensed from Taito (now Square Enix).