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Public Domain and Copyrights

Discussions and information about public domain clip art, terms of usage, and copyrights images of graphics, pictures, and other content.

I am not an expert on public domain nor am I an attorney. My knowledge about public domain was acquired by reading many of the articles on the Web about public domain. Put the words "public domain" into any search engine and you will pull up pages of articles and information about public domain.

My opinion of public domain is that it is free of any restrictions. You may use it freely for any purpose that you want to use it, either personally or commercially. You may recolor it, change it, sell it, and claim it as your own. Public domain has no conditions or restrictions. Please keep in mind that this is only my own opinion of public domain. Your opinion may differ than mine, an attorney may argue differently about public domain, and any court may see public domain quite differently than I do.

Public domain, copyrights, and clip art terms of usage go hand -in -hand. You need to know what public domain is and you need to know that some Webmasters incorrectly use public domain to refer to clip art that has been collected from all over the Web or collected from so called "free" Web sites, before you can determine if the clip art you are downloading or looking at is really public domain or copyrighted clip art, images, pictures, or content.

Public Domain

A Few Facts About Public Domain
A brief description of public domain, content creator rights, and free clip art with conditions.

Free Clip Art: Read the Terms of Usage
There are a multitude of free clip art sites on the Web. Most of these free clip art sites have conditions that you must follow if you use the free clip art.

Public Domain Clip Art by Jim Harris
A discussion regarding Celine's Original Graphics public domain clip art.

Public Domain Comments by Matt Harris
A discussion regarding Celine's Original Graphics public domain clip art and a bit about the privacy of emails.

Copyrights, Terms of Usage, Legal Issues

Clip Art Copyrights
All created content, including art, clip art, images, articles, photographs, pictures, features, songs, and books belongs to the person who created it.

Logo Copyright Information
Brand names, company names, product names, and even well known symbols such as a red cross may not be used on your Web site.

Changing and Using Clip Art
If I change an image or a piece of clip art by a certain percentage can I then claim it as my original image?

Site Closed. Could This Happen to You?
The closing statement issued by a large well organized Web site that was closed evidently due to copyright infringement.

Can Microsoft Clip Art Used Commercially?
If Microsoft clip art has been pre-loaded on a software program or on your computer can it be used in advertising material or used commercially?

Scanned Christmas Cards
If you scan Christmas cards that you have received and create clip art and backgrounds from them can you claim them as your original clip art?

Creative Commons
An explanation of Creative Commons and how to use it to share your creative works by Jennifer Kyrnin.

The Legalities of Linking
Jennifer Kyrnin has an informative article about linking off site.

Public Domain and Copyrights

Discussions and information about public domain clip art, terms of usage, and copyrights images of graphics, pictures, and other content.

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