Retracting A Recommendation

[wildrose]

I have in the past recommended aon-celtic.com as a site with really beautiful work, including a freeware section. After receiving a scathing note from the artist's "watchdog", I have come to realize that FREEWARE isn't. I had used some of the designs on pieces that were gifts, and one or two that I sold. Since pictures of said work was on my site, the watchdog sent me a note about copyright infringement.

I am retracting my recommendation of the site. If you continue to use it, beware.

I have had my webmaster remove all pictures of their work, and I have deleted it from my patterns folder.

It seems to me a person should call something "only with our permission and you paying us" instead of free. But I guess I'm dumb that way.

[Jordan]

I would scathe right back at them! If they advertise free then whatever it is should be free. Some people just don't get it, but if it is any consolation I am impressed with your designs and work. Jordan

[wildrose]

Thanks Jordan! I guess I was naive over their use of the word "free". I've since learned my lesson. I asked my husband for the latest edition/package of the Celtic Knot Font, which I always loved but haven't used since we got a new computer (which only takes cd-roms). I also have a collection of Dover books and others, so it's not like I'm crying over losing Aon as a source. It was more their attitude than anything else.

As it was, I had a sleepless night fussing over it - I know, I'm too sensitive for my own good.

[gtwister09]

Holly,

From dealing with freeware, shareware and open source for more than 20 years, I can assure you that it rarely means "free". Almost every time they will state in their EULA or website something to the effect that use of the product is only for personal or nonprofit use. I would imagine that if you looked around long enough on their site that you would find something to that effect. They generally require some payment for commercial use, maintenance or such...

Some leather patterns also carry warnings about commercial use with them as well.

You are better off to be safe than sorry.

Regards,

Ben

[wildrose]

Thanks Ben! The "better off safe than sorry" is pretty much why I deleted the pics without an argument. Just not worth it.

I'm posting it here simply because I don't want folks saying "oh, Holly sent me there".

[cem]

Holly you might want to check out this software http://www.hypatiaso...KnotsBag_A.html I think I've mentioned it here before buts it's recently been updated to version 2 and is alot easier to use. I payed the $20 so I could export to Illustator it can be a bit buggy but for for $20 I think it's worth it the developer is very helpful if you have any questions. I am in no way associated with them I just found it easier to use than the various fonts that are around for developing celtic themed artwork.

Cheers,

Clair

Edited February 12, 2010 by cem

[TroyS]

Holly,

This came straight from Wikipedia... Pay especially close attention to the two sentences in RED!

"Copyright is the set of exclusive rights granted to the author or creator of an original work, including the right to copy, distribute and adapt the work. Copyright lasts for a certain time period after which the work is said to enter the public domain. Copyright applies to a wide range of works that are substantive and fixed in a medium. Some jurisdictions also recognize "moral rights" of the creator of a work, such as the right to be credited for the work. Copyright is described under the umbrella term intellectual property along with patents and trademarks.

There are different approaches to the issue of what is a "copy" of a copyright-protected work. For example, several important rights under United States copyright law exist only for "copies" of works—material objects in which the work is embodied. A three-dimensional counterpart of a two-dimensional drawing is usually not a "copy" of the drawing, under United States copyright law. Thus, the copyright in a drawing of the approach to the Triboro Bridge is not infringed when the bridge approach is built.

If you really want to smack her off her soap box, you can throw this in her selfish face!!

Hope it helps!!

Troy

Edited February 12, 2010 by TroyS

[wildrose]

Thank you Troy, you're great! My husband also felt I should've fought it and not just taken down the pics.

My mom has done oil painting, and will sometimes use a picture she's found in a magazine to put on canvas. Like my taking a freeware clip off Aon to use as a pattern to carve on leather. I don't really see this as copyright infringement. I am using the picture as a basis and expanding on it, with my own skills and colors.

Ah well, I appreciate all the comments and suggestions I've gotten on this topic.

[Yona]

I'm new, but I have traveled the world in the army, and I just looked at her site and the first thing I saw was a triangle with a celtic note that I have seen a lot of places and they were carving over a couple of hundred years old ....sooooooooo unless she is a vampire or immortal...she copied them. She might have copy writed (?) but that does not mean that she did not copy them from old drawings or carvings......people copywrite things all the time that no one else did.....I see it in the chopper builders world all the time. Tell her to prove it....look up old celtic carvings and drawings and use them....if she says they are hers, counter with plagerism....

Edited February 12, 2010 by Yona

[wildrose]

That is one reason I kept a copy of the double triquetra I think I found on her site: a triquetra is NOT a unique to this artist design. Even her Celtic crosses. Okay, maybe she puts a line or two of her own on there, but it's not as if a Celtic cross is original to her.