Permissions For Icons

I know that if you convert and/or host someones icons that you have to get permissions to do so. I have worked very hard to get these permissions on the icons I currently have on my site. However, mainly only icon creators that develop for mac only will allow you to host their icons on my site. In addition, it seems as though the trend is for icon creators to now make both Mac and PC versions of their icons, hence moving out the middle man (ME in this case).

However, my question is this: If I were to post a "preview" of a artists icons and than link to their site for my users to download the icon sets (not direct to the file as I know I can't do that but to the page in which the icons are located), would it still be required to obtain the artists permissions? Also, I would never ever pass off work that was not mine as my own so the appropriate credit and accolades would be given to the original artist.

Any Thoughts?

#130156

Have you asked any of the artists you routinely deal with? Sounds like a reasonable idea, Spyder. I imagine the freeware icon artists are in it for the happiness they get seeing their icons used and loved by all, so it's hard to imagine they'd object to you linking their pages with a preview. Needing permissions to show a preview?!??! That seems over the top.

#130169

I agree with ji, and since you are not distributing them, I don't see it as breaking any laws or moral values.

#130319

I haven't asked any of the people I currently get permissions from, mostly because they are not the people I am talking it about. It's just that there are SO MANY incredible icons out there and I want viewers of my site to see them ALL and not just the ones I am allowed to convert and host. Thanks for the help guys and any more input is welcome!

#130326