Glasseyed posted at 6:04PM Thu, 27 April 2017 - #4303710

Just to be clear on this: If I were to create a CG story--a series of 2D renders--and some of the assets I used were licensed for non-commercial use only, I might be in violation of copyright if my story appeared on e.g. a subscription-type comic website. Yes? No? Maybe?

Right now this is a purely academic question since I'm still getting my toes wet, but I have been buying and downloading content like a kid in a candy store. If my skills ever reach the stage where that kind of 'publishing' is a possibility, I'd hate to find out the hard way that I broke the law.

Comments and/or futher clarification would be most welcome. Thanks in advance!

Yes. No maybe about it. The terms of "Commercial Use" are sufficiently broad to encompass any exchange of goods, services, payment (including payment in kind), advertising or promotions. It would also cover a scenario where a magazine has to be paid for in order to get hold of the "free" or "non commercial" stuff.

Sometimes, vendors will state specific restrictions, other than just saying "Non Commercial". In all cases, it's best to get in touch with them first, or if that's not possible, don't use the content.

Someone on here used to gripe that restrictions like the above meant that Freestuff wasn't really free. That's just silly; it means "Free of Charge"; any other interpretation is trying to weasel out of a perfectly valid and honourable set of restrictions. My own interpretation is: If you don't like the terms, don't use the stuff.

This, is of course, under UK law and I ain't a lawyer.

Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.

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