"just because you're using certain icons does not mean it's up to you to grant people permission to use them. if they originally came from an icon post or whatever, then no one needs to ask your permission. the only case in which they *do* need to ask permission would be if an icon was made just for you (or you made it just for yourself), and how would anyone know if it was unless you note that?"
If the icon originally came from an icon post, you would know by asking, "Hey, where did you get that icon?" If an icon was made just for one individual, you would know by asking, "Hey, is that icon up for grabs?" In other words, it would just make sense that you should get the icon from the original creator, and therefore, you should ask the user for the source. If the source was a free-grab icon post, then that's great. If not, then that person needs to ask the person who created the icon whether or not he or she can use it. If the icon was a gift for one person, then both the creator AND the recipient would have to give permission... just like fanart.
Maybe icon etiquette is different from common manners in the rest of the world. I always felt that common good manners meant to ask for something before you took it. For example, if you see an old bicycle on someone's lawn, do you assume that it's out there for you to take? It LOOKS like it's old and unused. It LOOKS like it might have even been left out for the garbage man. However, unless there's a sign on it that says, "Free to whoever wants it!", it's not up for grabs.
The person who took the photo-icon of my ex and me kissing each other claimed that it didn't look like a regular photo, or that it was a really well-done photo-manip of Dan Radcliffe and Tom Felton. As far as I was concerned, that wasn't the point. The point was that she took something I made without asking for it. To me, that's the same thing as taking fanart or re-distributing fanfic without the artist's or author's permission. "I've seen that art everywhere!" is not a valid excuse, nor is "But this fic is on tons of archives!"
So, I guess I've been disillusioned. The icon community doesn't follow the same standards of etiquette as the rest of the world, nor even the rest of the fandom. So sad.
no subject
"just because you're using certain icons does not mean it's up to you to grant people permission to use them. if they originally came from an icon post or whatever, then no one needs to ask your permission. the only case in which they *do* need to ask permission would be if an icon was made just for you (or you made it just for yourself), and how would anyone know if it was unless you note that?"
If the icon originally came from an icon post, you would know by asking, "Hey, where did you get that icon?" If an icon was made just for one individual, you would know by asking, "Hey, is that icon up for grabs?" In other words, it would just make sense that you should get the icon from the original creator, and therefore, you should ask the user for the source. If the source was a free-grab icon post, then that's great. If not, then that person needs to ask the person who created the icon whether or not he or she can use it. If the icon was a gift for one person, then both the creator AND the recipient would have to give permission... just like fanart.
Maybe icon etiquette is different from common manners in the rest of the world. I always felt that common good manners meant to ask for something before you took it. For example, if you see an old bicycle on someone's lawn, do you assume that it's out there for you to take? It LOOKS like it's old and unused. It LOOKS like it might have even been left out for the garbage man. However, unless there's a sign on it that says, "Free to whoever wants it!", it's not up for grabs.
The person who took the photo-icon of my ex and me kissing each other claimed that it didn't look like a regular photo, or that it was a really well-done photo-manip of Dan Radcliffe and Tom Felton. As far as I was concerned, that wasn't the point. The point was that she took something I made without asking for it. To me, that's the same thing as taking fanart or re-distributing fanfic without the artist's or author's permission. "I've seen that art everywhere!" is not a valid excuse, nor is "But this fic is on tons of archives!"
So, I guess I've been disillusioned. The icon community doesn't follow the same standards of etiquette as the rest of the world, nor even the rest of the fandom. So sad.