Give Proper Credit
I have read a lot of Terms and Conditions for using the brushes some webmasters have provided on their websites. I get pretty tired reading all of them, but since I try to be an honest netizen, I always do. I have realized that those terms are continuously being ignored by many. Well, that’s quite an exaggeration, but I hope you get what I mean.
I don’t erase links on my Credits page. Well, except when I’m in a horrible situation wherein all my files are lost. As much as I love organized chaos, I still sort my files into their proper folders so as not to forget where I’ve downloaded some materials from. I update my pages every time I change layouts to put all the links into the credits page, even if I’m not using their graphics anymore. The makers deserve every hit and credit they get.
Warning: I have no, absolutely no, intention of hurting anyone’s feelings. I have no particular person in mind while writing this entry. The section below contains a few vulgar and curse words. Read at your own risk. Violent reactions are welcome, but please respect my opinion.
Noncommercial. You let others copy, distribute, display, and perform your work and derivative works based upon it but for noncommercial purposes only.
Examples: Gus publishes his photograph on his website with a Noncommercial license. Camille prints Gus’ photograph. Camille is not allowed to sell the print photograph without Gus’s permission.
- From the Creative Commons Website
A non-commercial enterprise is work that values other considerations above and beyond that of making a profit. It differs from a non-profit enterprise in that seeking a profit is a part of their business, just not the main part. A typical example is art that is being sold, but where the artist has strict rules about what they will and will not do. These rules significantly decrease profits (sometimes creating losses), but allow the artist to retain his artistic integrity.
- From Answers.com
Copyright. Such a lovely word, isn’t it? Unfortunately, this word is so lovingly abused. People are so caught up in their “own work” that they frequently “forget” to credit their own resources. They claim that no copyright violation has been done, but their sites have “I Stole Everything You See Here” written all over them.
Lots of young webmasters have this a page called “Buy a Layout” or “Layouts for Sale” or something to that effect. But whenever I view websites with which the current layouts have been bought, I immediately look at the sidebar1 and search for the Credits section.2 What links do I see? Well, if it’s a WordPress theme, of course, there’s WordPress. If it’s hosted, then there’s also the host. And of course, need I forget? The link of the person who has made the layout.
Now let me ask the creators these questions: Where’s the link to the site where you got the brushes you’ve used on the layout from? Or the images? Or, perhaps, the textures and patterns? Most probably, the one who has bought the layout has no idea whatsoever of where you have gotten your resources. Maybe you’ve put the links in your own credits/resources page? Somewhere not as easy to look for as your link in the sold layout? Don’t you think the owners of the brushes/images/textures/patterns/tubes/etc you’ve used deserve as much credit as you do? Yes, you’ve put all the hard work into that layout, but the others also put all the hard work to make what you make money from.
It’s alarming that the number of webmasters who are stupid enough to use noncommercial materials to gain profit is increasing. Ironically enough, they’re supposedly against the crime they themselves are doing. I get annoyed every time I see personal websites that offer “services” using ripped-off stuffs. Putangina, parang hindi marunong umintindi! I know everyone is a walking contradiction, but they’re way out of line in situations like this.
Q: Can I make commercial works/site layouts/t-shirts/stickers with your brushes?
A: You’re allowed to make derivative works (a single brush-stamp on canvas doesn’t represent an artwork: I call it lack of creativity) with no commercial purposes. This means that you cannot ask/earn money from them. A credit, or a link back to my site are always appreciated: that way you can help more people to get to know (and download) my free stuff.
- From Magurno.com
What can I use these brushes on?
“You can use these for your non-commercial projects. Why not commercial ones, you ask? It’s a copyright issue. Some of the earlier brushes are made with scans of products which are licensed and belong to companies…and I really don’t want to have to deal with that sort of nonsense. So non-money-making products only, please, such as personal web pages. I wouldn’t really expect these kind of brushes to be able to be used on professional web graphics anyway. ^_~”
- From Magitek-Designs
And to think that I always see Magitek-Designs and Magurno brushes scattered all over a “for sale” layout. I sure hope those people who are fond of the phrase Copyright Infringement know what it really means. They always say give credit where credit is due, when they’re the ones who don’t give the proper credit to their resources. Can I say bitchy hypocrites?
Know what? I don’t care if you’re one of the people whom I’d gladly love to hate. If you’re offended, fine. I don’t give a fucking damn, thank you very much. If you find yourself implicated, then maybe you’d like to make some changes. I don’t know. It’s your decision. I’m just saying what’s supposed to be right because I know you’re doing something wrong.
Yes, I know I’m being a bitch. But I know I have a valid point here.
Test comment
[...] Okay, I won’t go into details about the people who sell layouts, who’re3, in the process, committing a crime called something we all know and are familiar with. I’ve written about this before. I mean, using noncommercial materials such as brushes, patterns, textures, and images4 for a badly hideously-coded layouts for PhP250-300? If it isn’t copyright infringement, then tell me what it is.5 No one reads and understands what I’m saying anyway, so I guess I’m just gonna have to wait for the time when my patience runs out and I have no choice but to report each and every single one of those people who continuously do this. [...]
I am not aware of this, but since I am now, I will talk to her about this.
Thank you ate shari
this article of yours really serves as an eye-opener for a newbie in web designing like me 
[...] of something, I can be passionate about it. Classic examples are the Boycott Nestlé campaign, and Copyright Infringement. And [...]