Please read if you feel like taking my avatar

[Durandal7]

My avatar is an original piece of work. The Apple logo is the only part that does not need my permission to reproduce. The base image is an original creation by myself and therefore falls under copyright law. This has become an issue. It is my intelluctual property and it is not to be reproduced in it's original form or in a derivitave form without my permission.

[buffsldr]

I don't know what prompted you to post this. Is someone stealing your design?

But you must admit, it is a little ironic. You take a design, that is covered by copyright law, stick it on your 'tar and then complain when others do the same. That's awesome.

[Durandal7]

Originally posted by buffsldr
I don't know what prompted you to post this. Is someone stealing your design?

But you must admit, it is a little ironic. You take a design, that is covered by copyright law, stick it on your 'tar and then complain when others do the same. That's awesome.
Yes, over at another forum site.

It is a little ironic, but I give credit to Apple in my sig. The person in question gave no credit to me or Apple.

[Over Achiever]

Originally posted by Durandal7

Yes, over at another forum site.

It is a little ironic, but I give credit to Apple in my sig. The person in question gave no credit to me or Apple.

Is it just me, or has your signature suddenly changed?;)

At least that particular person changed his avatar :)

[cubist]

In your signature, "it's" should read "its".

Instead of copyrighting it, why don't you get a patent? Then you can charge people who use it without permission, or license it to others for a fee. You could even offer it in different colors. The claims part would be tricky, but there are tens of thousands of patents issued every year in the US, and there can't be more than a dozen of them that are even slightly innovative.

[Durandal7]

Originally posted by cubist
but there are tens of thousands of patents issued every year in the US, and there can't be more than a dozen of them that are even slightly innovative.
I think that a dozen is a steep figure. Maybe 1 or 2.

[alex_ant]

I will: "Who gives a flying ****?"

Just put this into your signature:

"This avatar is copyright (c) 2002 Durandal7. It may not be copied, reproduced, retransmitted, or modified in any way in whole or in part without the express written consent of Durandal7 or the recognized legal representation of Durandal7. Failure to comply with this copyright notice will result in prosecution under title X, section Y of the United States Code."

I wish my biggest problem in life was that a few people were stealing a crappy 64x64 animated GIF from me.

[medea]

Yeah Durandal7, I was the first person on that forum to mention that he had stolen your tar, and he gave me that crap about it not being copyrighted, the boy hasnt even earned his post count to get a tar anyways so I'm not sure what's going on with that. I wish you could apologize for other people......

[Hemingray]

For God's sake, you can't copyright your avatar unless it is a completely original creation! The fact that you're using Apple's corporate logo basically voids you from putting any kind of copyright on it, since the logo itself is copyrighted. All you can do is ask the guy not to commit this mild form of identify theft. But if he blows you off, there's nothing you can legally do about it.

It sucks, don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to downplay the fact that somebody used your avatar, but all you guys that think you have some sort of legal case here, you don't. :rolleyes:

[cubist]

Copyrights don't have to be for completely original creations.

That being said, I like alex_ant's wording better than the original wording. You will have to determine the current values of X and Y.

[alex_ant]

From Macrumors, to my hard disk, and back!

I LIKE it! I've been looking for a good avatar... maybe I'll use this one!

[funkywhat2]

just out of curiosity, did/do you use that animation for other things or did you decide to just copyright that thinking "hmm, i feel like copyrighting my MacRumors avatar today, because I can"

[Hemingray]

Originally posted by cubist
Copyrights don't have to be for completely original creations.

That being said, I like alex_ant's wording better than the original wording. You will have to determine the current values of X and Y.

Uh huhh.... ssoooo you're saying if I took the Star Wars logo and put a swirly moving background behind it that it is now free for me to copyright? Lucas would hang you higher than a kite tangled in a power line if you tried that.

The bottom line is, he may be able to "copyright" the animated design BEHIND the Apple (which I even doubt that), but the Apple image on top of that canNOT be copyrighted since it is already a trademark of Apple and consequently copyrighted as well. Since the guy stole his avatar WITH the Apple logo on it, he's legally powerless.

BTW, it's only "okay" to copyright the *changes* to anything already copyrighted as long as it's changed by around 20%, and even then it is up to the law to decide. The fact that the Apple logo remains unchanged in his avatar means your argument doesn't even apply here.

[mac15]

geez, comon, so what, go sue, your a grown man whinging about a 50x50 image, get over it

[medea]

This isnt about legal issues guys, its about this being a community and there are certain things you should and should not do, and those things should be obvious. No one would actually think about taking legal action in something as silly as this, but you simply do not steal others peoples work wheter it be a simple avatar or anything else for that matter, Durandal7's tar is associated with his personality, and it's not too hard to find your own tar.

[vixapphire]

Originally posted by medea
This isnt about legal issues guys, its about this being a community and there are certain things you should and should not do, and those things should be obvious. No one would actually think about taking legal action in something as silly as this, but you simply do not steal others peoples work wheter it be a simple avatar or anything else for that matter, Durandal7's tar is associated with his personality, and it's not too hard to find your own tar.

Yes, but if someone wants to modify his or use it as a basis for their own (like his use of the apple logo, fer instance), won't that make it a tar baby?:p

hey - i know that's a perfectly idiotic remark, but don't go tar and feather me over it!!!;)

[MacBandit]

Well I think you should talk to Lemon or someone else over at Funmac rather then posting this here. They should have the control over this. If they don't control the pirating of tars then I think we should ditch FunMac.

[Mr. Anderson]

I even mentioned it over in that forum. It's poor form, regardless of whether it's a copyright infringement issue. If you 'borrow' a tar from someone, you should have the decency to ask first, not just take it.

Durandal7 has reason to be upset - have you talked to him directly?

D

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by dukestreet
I even mentioned it over in that forum. It's poor form, regardless of whether it's a copyright infringement issue. If you 'borrow' a tar from someone, you should have the decency to ask first, not just take it.

Durandal7 has reason to be upset - have you talked to him directly?

D

I have not talked to Durandal directly but I will bring this up with some of the mods and the guy running fun mac. I have an open line of communication with them.

[BenderBot1138]

I am currently lobbying my Congressman to exempt avatars from copyright protection.

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by BenderBot1138
I am currently lobbying my Congressman to exempt avatars from copyright protection.


Obviously you don't get the point. It's not this serisous but it is a matter of courtesy.

Going back to your post. Hahahahaha :)

[Spock]

That's funny I did not think you could take a screenshot from a Winamp visual that is copyrigthed shrink it and call it yours. MMM I think I will shrink the Apple Logo and copyright it.©™

Spock

[BenderBot1138]

I just heard a story about the Apple logo. It turns out the Apple with a bite out of it is a salute to Past Computer Guru Alan Turing. He aparantly killed himself by taking a bite out of a poisoned apple or something, thus the apple logo.

Any truth... or just MacRumor? :confused:

[FelixDerKater]

Originally posted by alex_ant
I will: "Who gives a flying ****?"

I agree, alex_ant...

Who cares? It is just an avatar and nothing more. You seriously need to consider going out and getting a life. I don't want to sound too mean about this, but why is this so d*** important to you? :confused: :rolleyes: :p :eek:

[mcrain]

As probably one of the few people on these boards who actually knows and understands copyright law I only have one thing to say.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! :D :D :D

You guys are funny with your little copyright claims to an avatar. Oh god, I needed a good laugh. Thanks.

[FelixDerKater]

In addition to my last post, although I think it is a dumb thing to have a fit over, whenever you use material that isn't your own work, you should give credit. Give credit where credit is due. Still, I hold the opinion that it isn't worth wasting your time fussing about.

[Sun Baked]

Originally posted by Durandal7
:mad: Please read if you feel like taking my avatar

Now that I've read this thread, does that mean I can have your avatar?

http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?postid=158571

[diorio]

Originally posted by FelixDerKater
In addition to my last post, although I think it is a dumb thing to have a fit over, whenever you use material that isn't your own work, you should give credit. Give credit where credit is due. Still, I hold the opinion that it isn't worth wasting your time fussing about.

Durandle hasn't replied to any of anyones posts regarding this topic. I believe its everyone who has posted in this tread's arguing over copyrights and patents who are wasting their time. I bet Durandle is just sitting back and laughing at you all as you continue to bicker.:rolleyes:

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by FelixDerKater
In addition to my last post, although I think it is a dumb thing to have a fit over, whenever you use material that isn't your own work, you should give credit. Give credit where credit is due. Still, I hold the opinion that it isn't worth wasting your time fussing about.

I agree it isn't that big a deal, but my point about asking for permission still stands, its just a common courtesy. If you go to all the work of making something, used in identifying youself, a 'tar is simillar to a logo, it always best to make sure.

[Spock]

Originally posted by BenderBot1138
I just heard a story about the Apple logo. It turns out the Apple with a bite out of it is a salute to Past Computer Guru Alan Turing. He aparantly killed himself by taking a bite out of a poisoned apple or something, thus the apple logo.

Any truth... or just MacRumor? :confused:

The Apple Logo has a Bite taken out of it so that it won't look like a cherry. Read the Apple industrial design Collection Book.

[blackpeter]

Wow, this is silly. Who really cares? :rolleyes: People change their avatars all the time.

Your identity isn't your 'tar, it's the content of your posts. ;)

[diorio]

Originally posted by tfaz1
Wow, this is silly. Who really cares? :rolleyes: People change their avatars all the time.

Your identity isn't your 'tar, it's the content of your posts. ;)

Some people spend a lot of time on their avatars.;)

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by diorio


Some people spend a lot of time on their avatars.;)

That's exactly it - I've done some 'tars that have taken hours, take a look at backtothemac's tar, one of the more ambitious ones still out there. I've even done some of my own in 3D and then converted them to gifs. So if a significant amount of work is done on the 'tars, the least you can do is ask permission to use it.

D

[diorio]

Originally posted by dukestreet


That's exactly it - I've done some 'tars that have taken hours, take a look at backtothemac's tar, one of the more ambitious ones still out there. I've even done some of my own in 3D and then converted them to gifs. So if a significant amount of work is done on the 'tars, the least you can do is ask permission to use it.

D

I think that is the only reason Durandle was upset. He made the 'tar background, and someone took it without asking him.

[j763]

Originally posted by BenderBot1138
I just heard a story about the Apple logo. It turns out the Apple with a bite out of it is a salute to Past Computer Guru Alan Turing. He aparantly killed himself by taking a bite out of a poisoned apple or something, thus the apple logo.

Any truth... or just MacRumor? :confused:

Alan Turing basically came up with the idea of digital computing before the second world war. He was able to shorten the second world war by many months by cracking the Germans codes. He committed suicide shortly after the second world war because, due to his homosexuality, he was victimized. After killing himself, a half-eaten apple was found on his desk.

That's where the apple logo came from.

Not a poisoned apple at all, there just was a half-eaten apple on his desk.