| Clip art is a collection of graphic images of various | | | | Moreover, subscriptions to clip art websites are |
| shapes, sizes and colors, including maps, diagrams, | | | | increasing at a fast pace. Clip art is a mini industry |
| illustrations, cartoons and designs, available to you for | | | | that is proving to be self reliant and here to stay. |
| copying and pasting into your own page layout. You | | | | Copyright for Clip Art Usage |
| can shop for any activity that needs an image, such | | | | The legal aspect regarding the usage of images on |
| as business presentations, birthday/wedding | | | | the web has long been a grey issue. The web |
| invitations, sports events, holiday greetings, etc. | | | | started out with text only, left-justified, a warehouse |
| People associate clip art with web decoration, but the | | | | of articles. It was not until it was well established that |
| images are also available in printed format. Clip art | | | | images, buttons and graphics were introduced. |
| consists exclusively of illustrations, and excludes | | | | Unfortunately, by that time, the action of |
| photographic images. | | | | downloading images for personal reuse was rampant. |
| Clip Art History | | | | Subsequently, companies and their lawyers have now |
| Clip art started as reproductions of simple line art | | | | become vigilant with respect to the issue of |
| drawings. These drawings were pressed full size onto | | | | copyrights. |
| a board where text or additional images were used. | | | | The dictionary defines copyright as ownership over a |
| The board would be referred to as a 'mechanical' and | | | | creation. Whether that creation is literary, audio, |
| ready for photographing. | | | | musical, or has any other artistic attribute, its |
| When personal computers were introduced on the | | | | ownership belongs to the creator. That copyright is in |
| market, the average users needed art to spice up | | | | force for the life of the creator and 50 years after. |
| their projects. The clip art industry was initiated with | | | | Just because some of these creations are posted to |
| the creation of desktop publishing. In 1983 VCN | | | | the web does not mean that the item is in the public |
| Excuvision introduced a package of clip art for pc | | | | domain. Another great misconception involves the |
| users, and in 1984 Macintosh followed up with its | | | | common belief that if you download it and change it |
| own release, graphical user interface (GUI), a term | | | | by adding or subtracting from the creation, it then |
| that has become synonymous with web images. Also | | | | becomes yours. That is wrong. You must obtain |
| in 1984, the package of illustrations called "ClickArt" | | | | written permission from the owner to reproduce or |
| was released. | | | | change clip art. |
| It was not until 1985 when Aldus released Page | | | | The terms for usage are dictated by the creator of |
| Maker 5 for desktop publishing that clip art came into | | | | the company who owns the clip art. The |
| its own. Aldus made it possible for the home user to | | | | reproduction terms may be as simple as a few lines |
| produce professional quality publishing, which rendered | | | | or as complicated as the usage for major companies |
| clip art very popular and in great demand. People | | | | like Nike and Ford. |
| started producing business presentations, | | | | What you can and cannot use |
| newsletters, invitations, and brochures. Technology | | | | You may use clip art images when it is indicated that |
| allowed for simple designs and basic colors. | | | | they are 'free to use' on commercial and personal |
| Steady progress was made in both home computing | | | | web pages. |
| and clip art. In the early 90's, the production of | | | | Before copying an image for your use, ensure |
| cd-roms with an array of electronic art became a | | | | yourself that it is free to use on a personal web site. |
| necessity. Microsoft began to include clip art in their | | | | However, if you have any advertisement on your |
| products. Another company, T/Maker, started | | | | website, the copied image then becomes commercial |
| producing massive amounts of digital art. Some of | | | | and therefore cannot be used on that particular |
| their copyright free collections held over 500,000 | | | | website, unless it is specified that it can be used on a |
| images. | | | | commercial website. |
| Through the years, clip art has been a steady add-on | | | | Linkware images allow you usage of the image if you |
| for computer programs and a revenue generator for | | | | link back to the creator's page. |
| companies. In the 2000's, the emergence of the | | | | This issue is not one of entitlement but one of |
| internet as a sales tool was recognized. Clip art on | | | | ownership. If you are caught by the owner using his |
| the web was sold by reputable websites that are still | | | | image, legal action can be initiated, forcing you to |
| around today. Clipart.com, and have online libraries for | | | | remove it and pay for past usage. Be wary because |
| sale, allowing it to be sold not only as bundled | | | | the legal rulings with respect to clip art copyrights are |
| software from computer companies, but also as | | | | far from being lenient. |
| individual pieces in a collection of illustrations. | | | | |