Using/Licensing MS Icons

[Malfunction]

I'm looking for informations on the net on how to license the standard ms icons.

I only found a rather outdated webpage stating that it's illegal to use the ms icons besides the ones delivered with ide's.

Since the icons provided with Visual Studio .Net are not really up to date I need to find a legal way to use icons from current applications like ms office.

Maybe somebody on this board has some experience on this matter?

[Procaine]

Dang, the other day I found the information on the MSDN site about the license on their image. Unfortunately I can't find it again...

 

The gist of it was basically you can't use any images, with exception to those that are provided with the development environment the software was developed in.

[Derek Stone]

Millions of applications around the world utilize the Microsoft icons that ship with the company's products. Using anything else would provide an inconsistent GUI to the user.

 

Rarely, very rarely, do I enourage copyright infringement, but in this case there's little to no question in my mind. You're using the icons to provide users with an environment that adhere's to Microsoft's layout, not for direct profitable gain.

 

Use your own best judgement however. I don't develop document-based applications so I've never been forced into making a decision such as this. Legally it's a no-no, but I can absolutely see the justification for using them.

[Malfunction]

Yes there's a contradiction. On the one hand MS wants applications to have the same look and feel which makes sense to me as the user got used to it. But on the other hand MS sais that using the icons is prohibited.

 

I'll just try to get an official statement and post it here.

 

thx anyways....

[Jay1b]

Alternatively, i think most companies - use and icon editor (such as MicroAngelo) to create there own icons which looks virtually identical as the MS ones, without actually copying them.

 

Realistically though, unless your produces a large scale piece of software for use by multiple companies - i really cant see Microsoft finding out.

[Malfunction]

Trouble is when you develop for a company you bear the full risk thus I wont do anything illegal. There should be a way to license the icons.

 

 

P.S. here's the link to the ms site on that issue

#http://www.microsoft.com/permission/copyrgt/cop-img.htm#Icons

[Procaine]

A couple of useful links:

 

 

Microsoft design guide in making XP-like icons

 

FauxS-X project - royalty-free XP-style icons