[Clipart] clipart Digest, Vol 75, Issue 23

[John Olsen]

On Jun 16, 2010, at 12:20 AM, clipart-request at lists.freedesktop.org wrote:
> 
> 
> I'm against taking clipart from sites that make exceptions like these. 
> John Olson is against (as far as I understand.) I think Nicubunu might 
> be against, but I'm not sure.
> Jarod is for "not caring" about their exceptions.
> 
> Anyone else want to have their say?

My main objection with this site is that it clearly has images that are NOT PD in anyway (Mickey Mouse drawings) but makes this PD claim.  The site ownership cannot be trusted.  It is unclear that any discretion  was used in placing art here and that all the statements and disclaimers may be equally dubious.  

I think the "this stuff is all PD but you can't use any of it for another competing website" may find its origin in the old Dover clipart books.  Their claim had more merit being that they made no claims on the art itself but did reserve copyright on the design and layout of their books.  They also placed a limit on the number of clip arts you could use in one project but this seems like a more questionable claim.  I do not know if anyone ever tested any of these points in a court of law.

Bottom line to me is that anybody can state any rights they want but until it is tested in a court of law they are just words.  I agree with others here who look at these claims and just see gobblety-goop.  They are at best self-contradictiory.

Johnny A