Looking for units images

[Alan McG]

I'm working on a flash/text-based kind of Civ game and I need some non-copyrighted or free images to use with it .I'm not sure how the copyright works but I guess I can't use any image from Civ even if it's just for a free internet game. I recently acquired the "Chronicles of Civilization" box, and the pictures used in the card game would be something quite close to what I'm looking for. Initially I only need images for a few buildings and middle-age military units.
Could someone recommend some site?

 

[Quinzy]

Firstly, wrong forum
And secondly, all the stuff posted here can be used i'm sure.

 

[Roman Legion]

how about google Images, you can find most of what you need there.

 

[Alan McG]

Yes, I did find plenty of images there, my problem was with the copyright. I assume I can not post them freely without getting involved in legal issues, which is too complicated for a small free online game.

BTW, wrong forum indeed sorry. Since I'm always browsing the civ3 forum kinda forgot about the others. Asking to move the thread..

 

[Blue Monkey]

Wikimedia

 

[Yoda Power]

You can always use the user created stuff here at cfc, that's without copyright.

 

[Steph]

Well, I guess technically that's not true. When an artist creates something, he automatically gets a copyright to it.
So the stuff at CFC is copyrighted. However, by posting at CFC, artists implicently grant the right to use their stuff. But it's till theirs.

 

[cubsfan6506]

Nope I believe anything you forfeit that right once it is posted.

 

[Steph]

In the United States, copyright has been made automatic (in the style of the Berne Convention) since March 1, 1989, which has had the effect of making it appear to be more like a property right. Thus, as with some forms of personal property, a copyright need not be granted or obtained through official registration with any government office. Once an idea has been reduced to tangible form, for example by securing it in a fixed medium (such as a drawing, sheet music, photograph, a videotape or a letter), the copyright holder is entitled to enforce his or her exclusive rights

Absence of a copyright notice does not mean that the work is not covered by copyright. The creator of an original work instantaneously possesses its copyright when that work is created through "mental labor" and "fixed" in tangible form. Thus, a natural copyright exists from the time a work is invented or created, regardless of whether it has been registered with a particular Copyright Office.

...

Note that there are many works that are not part of the public domain, but for which the owner of some proprietary rights has chosen not to enforce those rights, or to grant some subset of those rights to the public

Stuff which are posted here are not public domain. By posting here, you give the right to the public to use some of your stuff. But it's still yours: you decide not to enforce the copyright, it doesn't mean you forfait it.

For instance, for my conversion of American Conquest stuff, I asked the owner of the copyright (i.e. GSC Game world company) if they agreed, and they did. They gave us the right to reuse their graphics in non commercial projects.

That means if I cannot use them in SSS if it's not free.

 

[Plotinus]

Steph is right. Anyone who creates anything automatically owns the copyright. You don't have to explicitly claim the copyright or anything; it automatically belongs to you. You can only give up the copyright by making an explicit statement to that effect. Simply making the work freely available doesn't make you lose the copyright.

I'm sure that anything posted here is fine to use, since it's being made freely available. However, if you're going to use it for something other than a Civ III mod, I suggest you contact the creators first just as a courtesy. I'm sure they'd be happy for their stuff to be used in whatever way, but it's nice to be asked.

 

[Bjornlo]

Nope I believe anything you forfeit that right once it is posted.

No you do not. You can post anything and forfeit nothing. The only things you give up are those that you choose to give up. For example, in your files you can include a readme which limits how and where your stuff may be used.
The general understanding is that stuff posted here may be used by those visiting the site. But, that is not the same as giving up your copyright, it is only an understanding. You can always limit how your own creations are to be used. For example, I could be a poohead and post a few units and state "these may not be used in any work what so ever without the creator's(Bjørn Løvoll) explicit and written permission, all other useage is forbidden and the object(s) posted here can and should be considered only a preview of for private evaluation and not redistribution.

Luckily no one here behaves that way, but that is not the same as saying they can not do so.

However, I do place an explicit limitation on all my files. They are only to be used in Civ3. Any other useage must be run past me. I place this in writing in the readmes with either all or nearly all of the 200+ things I have released. The reason being, is I am making stuff for a game I enjoy. I want THAT game to be supported not every other possible use of my works.

 

[BadKharma]

Nope I believe anything you forfeit that right once it is posted.

You are completely wrong as a freelance graphic artist and photography I can assure you that all artwork drawn, painted, sculpted, photographed, and digital is covered under general art copyrights within the United States. When I sell graphics or photographs I sell them as limited time or run usage. Although you can sell the copyright an artist would be stupid to do so because they then can no longer use the graphic themselves for other uses. Also the vast majority of Cut n Paste artwork is not covered by copyright because it is not significantly different from the original image to qualify as "original" and I doubt people are contacting the copyright owner of the imiges they "find' on the web. By posting art at CFC the artist is granting the right to use not own the art for non-commercial purposes. Now technically since your game is free you fall within those usage rights. Technically though see Bjornlo's post he is correct on usage limitations. And more people should use read me's with their original art I always include a read me especially when I release free icon packages computer icons not Civ icons.

 

[Alan McG]

Thanks everybody. And do the EU copyright rules look like their USA counterpart?

 

[Synobun]

I think, you'd be better off, if that when you find a suitable image on these forums, you PM the author for permission. I think the guys here are pretty lenient in letting others use it.

 

[Underpaid]

Wait, since when is CFC a legal discussion forum?

 

[Blue Monkey]

Wait, since when is CFC a legal discussion forum?

Since we use a mix of adaptations of others' and newly created work to add on to a commercially produced game whose owners are picky about copyright and proprietary programs, techniques, etc., is since when.

 

[Yoda Power]

Wait, since when is CFC a legal discussion forum?

We are nothing but a legal discussion forum. If you do anything illegal (like posting a link to a pirate download for the civ games), you will most likely be banned.

 

[Underpaid]

We are nothing but a legal discussion forum. If you do anything illegal (like posting a link to a pirate download for the civ games), you will most likely be banned.

No, I mean a "legal discussion" forum, not a legal "discussion forum". Stupid English language!