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I converted my demoscene font collection to PNG and put it on GitHub

github.com

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Re: I converted my demoscene font collection to PNG and put it on GitHub

#21

Post by zeta0134 »

teddyh wrote: post #3
ianhanschen wrote: post #2

After seeing a few of the sites go down it seemed like a good idea to put it under source control. I don't claim rights to any of these works.

> I don't claim rights to any of these works. That’s not how copyright works.

My very, very loose understanding is that bitmap fonts in the US have a bit of a special protection against copyright, with the logic being that their public utility outweighs the benefit of enforcing these restrictions. Vector fonts not so much, but as these are all in PNG form, they seem exempt:

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/fonts-faq/part2/

IANAL, this is a US-based understanding and other countries have different rules, clarification welcome, other usual disclaimers, etc.

Re: I converted my demoscene font collection to PNG and put it on GitHub

#23

Post by karaterobot »

striking wrote: post #5
ianhanschen wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(Deleted grumbling)

I understand the urge to handwave away copyright or whatever, but it would be nice to at least see some attribution or the links from which you obtained the fonts. The people who made the content you're redistributing would probably appreciate that.

On the other hand, a lot of resources languish and ultimately disappear due to rights issues, not because of a dispute, but because they just can't be settled. For example, the original rights holder cannot be determined or located to give their permission.

I suspect that might be the case here, and I personally would rather these cultural artifacts be archived in good faith than the literal letter of copyright law is adhered to, likely to the detriment of everybody.

Re: I converted my demoscene font collection to PNG and put it on GitHub

#26

Post by ctdonath »

zeta0134 wrote: post #21
teddyh wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I don't claim rights to any of these works. That’s not how copyright works.

My very, very loose understanding is that bitmap fonts in the US have a bit of a special protection against copyright, with the logic being that their public utility outweighs the benefit of enforcing these restrictions. Vector fonts not so much, but as these are all in PNG form, they seem exempt: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/fonts-faq/part2/ IANAL, this is a US-based understanding and other countries have different rule…

Having dealt with font legalities (IANAL) while writing a bare-metal printer driver: rendered characters are not copyrightable. Method of rendering may be, but not final output.

Re: I converted my demoscene font collection to PNG and put it on GitHub

#27

Post by arexxbifs »

teddyh wrote: post #3
ianhanschen wrote: post #2

After seeing a few of the sites go down it seemed like a good idea to put it under source control. I don't claim rights to any of these works.

> I don't claim rights to any of these works. That’s not how copyright works.

My take:

* Collecting these for historical and inspirational purposes feels OK, but slapping some credits on there should be top priority.

* If someone uses them without permission from the original author, they will automatically become lamers forever, suffer public shaming in scrolltexts and live thenceforth as social outcasts.

Re: I converted my demoscene font collection to PNG and put it on GitHub

#28

Post by TheDong »

arexxbifs wrote: post #27
teddyh wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I don't claim rights to any of these works. That’s not how copyright works.

My take: * Collecting these for historical and inspirational purposes feels OK, but slapping some credits on there should be top priority. * If someone uses them without permission from the original author, they will automatically become lamers forever, suffer public shaming in scrolltexts and live thenceforth as social outcasts.

> If someone uses them without permission from the original author

You mean like this person, who without permission from the original authors posted them on github?

Re: I converted my demoscene font collection to PNG and put it on GitHub

#29

Post by arexxbifs »

TheDong wrote: post #28
arexxbifs wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My take: * Collecting these for historical and inspirational purposes feels OK, but slapping some credits on there should be top priority. * If someone uses them without permission from the original author, they will automatically become lamers forever, suffer public shaming in scrolltexts and live thenceforth as social outcasts.

> If someone uses them without permission from the original author You mean like this person, who without permission from the original authors posted them on github?

Sure, technically it's ripping and spreading but no different from ripping a pic you like from a demo and spreading that, which I would feel OK with if it was properly credited.

I think the lack of credits here is disconcerting but on the scene, there's a constant unsolicited spreading, uploading and sharing of material - especially nowadays, for historical reasons.

I've had pics ripped and used in other people's productions without credit. It's a bit flattering but mostly it's just annoying; I would have said yes right away if asked. On the other hand, I have my pics and (recordings of) demos uploaded to various sites all the time which is OK as long as I'm credited.

I've slapped a copyright claim on one of my demos on Youtube once, but only because the guy who ripped it did such a crappy job it was completely unwatchable.

Edit: What I'm trying to say is that the scene in general has its own take on copyright and fair use. For example, check out http://scrolltexts.com/

Re: I converted my demoscene font collection to PNG and put it on GitHub

#30

Post by bobsmooth »

ianhanschen wrote: post #9
TheRealPomax wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And that's fine: Github has a perfectly reasonable dispute resolution procedure, where rights holders first get to contact the repo owner to either remove or properly attribute their work. And if that doesn't lead to a satisfactory resolution, they can file a DMCA takedown notice and force the issue.

Yep. I am fine with artists contacting me if they want their work credited or removed. I only did it because it seemed like a good idea to secure them somewhere.

Uploading to archive.org would also be a good idea.
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