Using Microsoft Icons?

[brenaaro]

Does anyone know the legal specifics of using icons created by Microsoft (like those that come with VB) in my own application, and then selling that application?

Also, does the same apply to Windows XP icons? I don't use any "Trademark" icons like those for Outlook, but I do use the generic "Open Folder", "New Document", "Search", "Close", etc icons.

[110359]

I don't think it would matter to use the open folder, close etc. icons. But I think that before you sell the product you would probably have to check to see if there were any heavy copyright laws or something small that could get you into trouble.

[James Stanich]

How are you using the Icons? I use them in my app to display a Office Document Folder that figures the association of the file...

Is this illegal?

[John McKernan]

The icons, etc that were shipped with VB or Visual Studio - those contained in the following folders (if a standard installation):

...\Microsoft Visual Studio\Common\Graphics\Bitmaps
...\Microsoft Visual Studio\Common\Graphics\Cursors
...\Microsoft Visual Studio\Common\Graphics\Icons

are included in the redistributable list, and can be used in and distributed with your programs. Other icons may not necessarily be considered redistributable.

[brenaaro]

Hmm ok. I use the icons for toolbars in my apps, nothing else.

If some of those icons are included in VB.NET's \icons folder, would I require to purchase VB.NET, or does my clunky VB-Professional license grant me permission?

Thanks for the replies btw.

[John McKernan]

If some of those icons are included in VB.NET's \icons folder, would I require to purchase VB.NET, or does my clunky VB-Professional license grant me permission?

My guess would be that a VB.Net license would be required since the redistributable list is dependant on the version of VB you own.

[brenaaro]

Ok thanks.

[BuggyProgrammer]

well if you're smart you can extract the icons from shell32.dll, so not only do you not have to include them in your project and have less space, you can also have the OS icon style instead of just you own chosen styles.

[brenaaro]

I just noticed something, in my Microsoft Visual Studio\Common\ folder, I dont have a \Graphics folder ...?

[John McKernan]

Well, my installation (VB6 Pro) does... dunno?

[brenaaro]

It's ok, I think I'm an idiot. I must not have selected "extra graphics" or something when I did the install. I checked my co-worker's computer and he had them.