Support and General Use > Theming and Appearance Customization
Black Glass WPS
StsIkel:
Despite all issues supposedly being fixed, this theme was abruptly "removed for copyright [infringement]" with no further detail a month ago. I thought the original had already established the look as being an authorized derivation inspired by MS rather than copying it?
Llorean:
It used images directly from Windows Media Player. That's copyright infringement.
soap:
And to clarify:
This was established by direct conversation with the original author.
As for "abrupt":
I understand how it might appear that way - but how can I make the process appear less abrupt?
I was made aware of the likely infringement by Senab while in conversations with a second party over said second party's infringement of Senab's own license. I do not and have never used Windows Media Player - and so had no reason to know said buttons were directly lifted from it. It was only because this second party said "well THAT one is infringing as well" that I had to investigate the entire BlackGlass lineage.
I contacted most of the authors of BlackGlass derivatives in an attempt to learn if their artwork was "inspired by" or direct copy. Eventually I worked my way all the way back up the chain to the original creation and received the upfront and honest answer which led to the decision to pull.
At no point was a rash decision made to pull for the sake of pulling.
EDIT:
In hindsight: If I had to evaluate the procedure the only step I would take differently would be to not have started the initial query in #rockbox-community (everything that needed to be said was eventually said in #rockbox).
EDIT 2:
http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?p=298920#post298920
StsIkel:
OK, thanks for the information. That thread provides a useful summary of what an author can and cannot do with source material, particularly in regard to lifting copyrighted material straight from source, and creating derivative works in photoshop or similar from those and claiming (directly or through non-attribution) it as their own work. In those terms, it is clearly wrong, but many authors appear to be unaware that what they are doing is illegal.
However, even the DMCA needs a reason in takedown notices. Does TWiki have some sort of 'discuss' area where any relevant details can be kept, or can a slighly longer summary be used in future? (eg: Removed: illegal use of copyrighted images without permission or attribution)
Edit: clearer English and more exposition
soap:
--- Quote from: StsIkel on December 09, 2008, 08:48:11 AM --- so potential authors are fully aware of the consequences of being "inspired" by copywritten UIs.
--- End quote ---
The issue is NOT that the themes in question were "inspired by copyrighted User Interfaces."
The issue is simply that the themes in question directly lifted copyrighted graphical elements whole cloth.
Please do not confuse the very different situations.
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