New Launcher Logo Competition!

[Galen_Thalheimer]

As soon as an image is created it is copyrighted as far as I know. But unless specifically watermarked or otherwise copyrighted mentioned, it will fall within public domain when it is placed on certain websites and then it can be freely used.

I could be wrong however, wouldn't be the first time.

Things don't just "fall" into the public domain like that just because someone else used it or posted it to some site. Otherwise, the DCMA wouldn't exist and YouTube would haven't to scan for copyright materials. Only the original creator can release the copyright or change the terms. For example, if you pay a photographer to take photos, the photographer actually owns the rights to them. If you post those photos without obtaining the rights, you are violating copyright law. Things also enter the public domain 75 years after original creator's death (it used to be 20 years after creation, and companies like Disney changed it and now are trying to push it to 120 years). Now since NI is a community mod (barring donations which hopefully only go to running servers), it's probably not a big deal either....but better to keep clean of it.

Edit: I should add, not a lawyer...but I've looked into copyright stuff a lot.