license of the pictures not clear

[Giszmo]

For extra paranoia I generate my keys with vanitygen (which I now see in a commit message can be imported.) and have a python script to throw that on paper but I can't find what license the back and front images are. I'd share my scripts with my modifications if that's not in violation with the license.

[cantonbecker]

Hello,

The software (javascript, HTML) is available under MIT/BSD so you can modify it however you like. Revise, redistribute, sell, etc.

The graphic design of the wallet, including the colors, artwork and QR code layout, and the tri-folding folding "butterfly" shaped design -- are pending trademark. This means you can't re-use these or modify them or redistribute them for your own project without permission. That said, I'm generous with giving out permission (even for commercial ventures) and I often provide the original layered photoshop files for hobby/personal use. My contact is canton@gmail.com

[Giszmo]

Oh, ok, now I remember I read something weird about a guy trying to patent the concept of paper wallets. Enforcing copyright for a specific design is one thing and I support that. Let me know if I may not introduce people using a modified version of your design and I will stop folding these. My modifications are: only the pub key as text on the front side, more warnings, my mail. I also changed bitcoinpaperwallet.com to "design based on bitcoinpaperwallet.com".

[cantonbecker]

Hi Giszmo, you have permission to modify the design however you like for personal use, e.g. introducing friends & family to Bitcoin. Contact me directly if you'd like the photoshop files to make this easier. What is generally limited is modifying the design so you can sell it or launch a competing service.

[zdwolfe]

@cantonbecker why does the design have a different license than the code?

[cantonbecker]

Zachary writes: why does the design have a different license than the code?

Good question! The shortest answer is probably just "because I can." My code changes belong to an open-source ecosystem that appropriately limit my control, but the graphic design and the "bitcoinpaperwallet.com" logo are things I want to guard more carefully.

In practice, it's likely I'll give permission to most people who want to do whatever they like with the design. But if I judge that some person or organization is acting in bad faith (for example to capitalize on the trust people have in the BitcoinPaperWallet brand to defraud them) then I'd like to have have legal standing for asking them to desist.

For example, have a look at this news story from today:

http://www.sherwoodparknews.com/2014/01/16/cryptocurrency-comes-to-park

On the surface, this seems totally fine to me. I'm flattered, and I can't imagine any reason to ask these fellows to stop using my product in this way. I do wish as a professional courtesy they'd buy my tamper-evident serialized hologram stickers instead of using their own multicolor rainbow tape (bit tacky don't you think?) But hey, no big deal, live and let live.

However let's say turns out these fellows weren't selling bitcoin, but instead were selling garbage/scammy altcoins like Goldcoin or Bitbar -- while still using the "BitcoinPaperWallet" trademark and design. In that case, it's important for me to have some legal standing when I ask them to stop scamming their customers since (1) it's evil, and (2) it could deterioriate the hard-earned trust I've built up for BitcoinPaperWallet.com

Make sense? Ethical? Honorable? :)

[zdwolfe]

:+1: