Licensing Artwork for Use with Open Source Software? 19
Bill Kendrick asks: "I've created numerous Open Source games for Linux in the past, and am currently working on a new title, "Tux Paint" (a drawing program for little kids). In creating Tux Paint, though, it will be necessary for me to get contributions of artwork and photographs. When asking the various sources I find for permission to use their work, I'll of course explain that the product is GPL. ...But how will the GPL license of the software affect their works? Is there some kind of dual-licensing I can do which says 'software is GPL, artwork is XYZ' (where 'XYZ' might be 'owned by original creator', 'now public domain', 'only available when used with this GPL'd product', etc)"
Asked and answered (Score:2, Interesting)
Yes. Just do exactly that.
Re:Asked and answered (Score:2)
What the person wants to do is fine: the GPL is compatible with any data file license you'd like to use.
If the artist is Stallmanesque, he can say that the art can only be reused with GPLed software.
depends on the project type (Score:2, Insightful)
In my opinion you should consider this: your software can be used without the images or with different images?
If this is the case I believe that different licensing (software is GPL, artwork is XYZ) is just fine, on the contrary, if the actual images are an important part in the project, and it would be impossible (or very hard) to make a modified version of the program whithout manipulating the images you shoud have them under some GPL compatible licenze, either an adapded GPL or a FDL.
Re:depends on the project type (Score:2)
Re:depends on the project type (Score:2)
Re:depends on the project type (Score:1)
You should add exactly what you mean with "source code": i think that this is a (slight) modification of the GPL.
Of course you won't change the spirit of the license, but only some detail, expecially if you choose the definition of "transparent copy" from the FDL as a definition of "source" for the images.
Gnome 2's icons (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Gnome 2's icons (Score:1)
Google search for tigert reveals http://tigert.gimp.org/ [gimp.org]
click on Gnome things
click on gnome-stock items gets you to http://tigert.gimp.org/gnome/gnome-stock/ [gimp.org]
From that page:
Note3: The icons are released under the Gnu General Public License, meaning you can use them in free software projects free of charge. If you wish to use these for other things (or if you need other icons for your project) contact me [mailto].
Google's great. Use it.
Depends... (Score:2)
Read the GPL closely (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Read the GPL closely (Score:1)
Or must both be distrubuted seperately?
simple. distribute images as C code. (Score:1)
the XPM file format just whacks a bunch of ascii data into a C compatible file which can be compiled by gcc.
Write the FSF. (Score:4, Informative)
> But how will the GPL license of the software affect their works?
This seems to be a growing issue. E.g., there has been a recent discussion on the Freeciv [freeciv.org] mailing list, where they are actively trying to get their hands on improved graphics but want to be rigorous about licensing issues. (And alas, they had to reject some nice tilesets that various people have submitted because of dubious licensing status.)
It seems to me that this would be worth writing the FSF about and seeing whether they are interested in providing a "content" license. They recently produced their GNU Free Documentation License [fsf.org] in recognition that the GPL doesn't cover everything, but that does not seem to be completely apt for game artwork (and other game content) either.
They do link to another Design Science License [fsf.org] for data, which you may want to evaluate. But IMO it would be great if you could get the FSF to produce and defend a free content license (GCL?) that was explicitly defined to work like and with the GPL.
The reason I think the FSF might take an interest is because so much new GPL'd software is GUI-oriented and requires graphics of one sort or another, and a basic corpus of free/licensed graphics might help free software take off in new areas like it has in infrastructure.
Re:Write the FSF. (Score:2)
Very interesting indeed.
Shameless advertisement... (Score:1)