Use of Icons from a GPL'd program

Posted by clartaq on Stack Overflow See other posts from Stack Overflow or by clartaq
Published on 2009-12-11T14:52:59Z Indexed on 2010/04/07 22:13 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 311

Filed under:

gpl

|

gplv3

|

licensing

There is a GPL'd program that has some nice icons I would like to use in a project of my own. I would like to release my project under a more liberal license like Apache or BSD.

After reading the GPL V3 license (a few times), I can't figure out how it applies to resources like icons. Can I use them at all? If so, must I release my new project under GPL instead of some other license?

Of course, I plan to contact the original author and ask them what they had in mind and honor that intent. But what are the legal requirements for use of graphical resources from GPL'd software?

© Stack Overflow or respective owner

Related posts about gpl

GPL code allowing non-GPL local copies of nondistributed code

as seen on Programmers - Search for 'Programmers'
I have come across a book that claims that alterations and augmentations to GPL works can be kept close-source as long as these are not redistributed into the wild. Therefore, customizations of websites deriving from GPL packages need not be released under the GPL and developers can earn profit on… >>> More
Licensing software that uses GPL code with licenses other than GPL

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
Let's say I write some code, which we'll call X. It uses some GPL code, let's call it library Y. Clearly I would have to release X with a GPL license. That's fine. My question is, can I additionally release X under a license such as MIT, so that if someone only wants X but not Y they don't need to… >>> More
Does using GCC specific builtins qualify as incorporation within a project?

as seen on Programmers - Search for 'Programmers'
I understand that linking to a program licensed under the GPL requires that you release the source of your program under the GPL as well, while the LGPL does not require this. The terminology of the (L)GPL is very clear about this. #include "gpl_program.h" means you'd have to license GPL, because… >>> More
"Integratable" but not "integrated" GPL

as seen on Programmers - Search for 'Programmers'
There has been much debate over whether or not merely linking to a piece of code makes it a derivative work. I know FSF says "yes", so according to them I can't dynamically link a non-GPL compatible program to a GPL library and distribute the whole. But I could do that for private use, as long as… >>> More
GPL: does one line of GPLed code make program a "derived work"

as seen on Programmers - Search for 'Programmers'
I've recently run into some argument with a person that claims to be a lawyer (I have my suspicions about this not being completely true, though). As far as I know, copying even one line of code from GPLed program into proprietary body of code requires you to release the whole thing under GPL, if… >>> More

Related posts about gplv3

Can AfferoGPLv3 code be used in GPLv3 code?

as seen on Programmers - Search for 'Programmers'
Can software with AGPLv3 license be used with GPLv3 project? Can the resulting project be GPLv3, or must it have the special requirements of AGPLv3? I am not very smart from clause 13 of GLPv3 that mentions AGPLv3. Notwithstanding any other provision of this License, you have permission to… >>> More
Gplv3 and consulting

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
If you are doing a one off piece of work as a consultant, for which the client receives only binaries, can you use gpl3 software ? You are working on behalf of the client and not distributing it. From a standard gpl FAQ: Q: I am an OXID partner/reseller/consultant and I occasionally do one-time… >>> More
Is this scenario in compliance with GPLv3?

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
For arguments sake, say that we create a web application , that depends on a GPLv3 licensed component, lets say Ext JS. Based on Section 0 of the license, the common notion is that the entire web application (the client side javascript) falls under the definition of a covered work: A “covered… >>> More
The GPLv3 in Plain English &#8211; The Parts Microsoft Worries About

as seen on Internet.com - Search for 'Internet.com'
<b>fsckin w/ linux:</b> " Awhile back I read the small print about Microsoft’s Moonlight software distribution. It specifically mentions the stuff they don’t like about the GPLv3. Interesting. Let’s see what they are worried about." >>> More
Le code source du moteur derrière Doom 3 est disponible ! id Software publie l'id Tech 4 sous licence GPLv3

as seen on Developper.com - Search for 'Developper.com'
id Software publie les sources de l'ID Tech 4 sous licence GPLv3 Le code source du moteur derrière Doom 3 est disponible ! Il y a quelques mois, Id Software a commercialisé le jeu Rage utilisant la nouvelle version de l'Id Tech. Le studio de développement a pour habitude de libérer la version… >>> More