The bluebird of happiness

I am so glad I read this. I am taking down the bird and putting up an alternate bird...and not the finger! Thanks
Mandy

So what was the point of putting the icon out in highres, as a png, with no watermark on Flickr? I get protecting their property but if I leave my car with the keys in and the windows down in the ghetto I shouldn't complain when it gets stolen.

It is good that IconFactory is ok with personal use though.

Whatever the case is, I'm glad that I was able to work with Function to create something free for all! :)

He's always looked like he's sweating or something anyway.

Great to read all the comments about our little Blue Bird that could. Being in the freeware icon biz, we don't have too much of a problem with the use of the birdie on blogs and for informational pieces like this.

What we do have a problem with is when companies use the bird as part of their corporate branding, or to hock their products and services in relation to Twitter.

http://files.iconfactory.net/funny/chicks_wguns.png

It's happened before and we unfortunately have to do everything we can to prevent our logo / icon / creation being associated with products and services we don't use / endorse / partner with.

Ok, trademark the damn thing, end of story.. if your not going to trademark your logo.. then be prepared to spend the time getting people not to use it..

Better get on the horn and let ArsTechnica know this so they can take off the Microsoft Office logo on this page:

http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2008/09/25/support-for-office-2003-sp2-to-end-in-october

Ditto for Windows 7 and Myspace Music here:

http://www.wired.com/

Oh crap, even Wikipedia is getting sneaky putting the Apple logo here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Computer

Shut 'em down. Shut 'em down to hell!

Seriously, don't they know that the more people see that little blue birdie, the more people will try to find out what the hell Twitter actually is (I mean, ask the president if he uses twitter and he'll just give you a blank stare—wait... that's 95% of the looks he gives anyway).

I went the photo-realistic route and used a creative commons licensed picture of a bluebird.

Wrong!!!! If they are referring to their software, they can use it - much like you did in this story. If I write a story on Apple, I can use a picture of their logo because I'm referring to the copyright owners - it happens all the time. I'd think every newspaper would have major lawsuits otherwise - just look at their business section, and not are articles are positive ones (but fair comment and truth are a defense).

well the problem comes in when the brand is used in a way that is not cohesive with the whole message. you're right to say that the sites listed weren't using the logo incorrectly, but you are wrong to say that is shouldn't matter. thats why logos are copywritten or trademarked or registered, to protect the integrity of the design/message/company. did you see the example of the twitter bird with the pole through him dead as if he was on a rotisserie? now that is brand butchering and takes away from the twitter mark. Many companies offer "use these logos without changing them clauses attached to them" on their sites which may be used. but only if the logo is kept in its original design scheme. they are creative...but ultimately probably infringing on copyright violations and such.