[scribus] Permission to use Scribus Screen Captures in an Educational Product

[Hedley Finger]

I don't think this is a matter that should concern the Scribus team.  
Having worked in publishing and as a technical writer, I believe that 
you are de facto free to use screen shots in a publication, provided 
there is some sort of acknowledgement:

"Scribus screen shots, icons, and controls are the copyright property, 
trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks throughout the world 
of <<the Scribus corporate organisation,** whatever that is>>, and Nokia 
Corporation [owner of Trolltech] and its subsidiaries."

Otherwise the third-party publications (Dummies, Missing Manual, Special 
Edition, etc.) about various software applications would be out of 
business.  Or put it this way: every magazine, book, video tutorial, or 
training set is free publicity for your product, be it the Scribus 
application or the widgets in its interface.  Do you think you would 
discourage or encourage other parties from writing about your product by 
requiring them to seek permission or to pay a fee for use?

The publishing industry normally pays a fee for the use of photographs 
and large chunks of copyright text, but this is somewhat different, as a 
new work is being created by the mash-up.  Not a route the free, 
open-source community wants to go down, I would think.

Regards,
Hedley

** Does the Scribus development team operate as a non-profit corporate 
entity?  It would be a nice idea so that the owner of intellectual 
property is clearly identified -- even if, in effect, it is giving it 
away by the terms of an open-source licence -- to protect the IP against 
incursions by, say, M*******t, N****l, etc.

--

Hedley Finger

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