[thelist] Ethical issues concerning re-use (and heavy modification) of images

Samir M. Nassar nassarsa at redconcepts.net
Thu May 9 01:57:01 CDT 2002


The question is, how far can one prove that a work is a derivative of
theirs?

If a work is modified so heavily so as not to be recognisable from the
original, how can it break the law? At least US law.

If the work you create looks sufficiently close enough to bother you
then I'd just do something else, because if it bothers you, then it
could bother someone else. However, if the work you created does clearly
reflect the original I wouldn't bother with referencing or worrying
about it too much.

Remember, this is a country where corporations have the same status as
human beings. Yet when a corporation commits a felony it doesn't get
punished like a human felon?

Moral? Follow the spirit of the law. So don't outright steal somebodies
work. Don't make a cheap knockoff and call it your own. In short, treat
someone else's work as you'd like your own treated. With respect.
However, using someone else work as inspiration, or guide, while maybe
breaking the letter of the law, is not something I find ethically wrong.
Then again, ethics and jurisprudence are like morals and religion; the
latter would like to take credit for the former, respectively, but in
reality the relationship is tenuous.


Samir M. Nassar
RedConcepts.NET - Open Source, Public Service
http://www.redconcepts.net




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