"PC CD-ROM Software" Icon rights?
by Noone Special · in General Discussion · 03/01/2005 (5:21 pm) · 7 replies
I am looking at making a small box for my software, and I was wondering i f the "PC CD-ROM Software" logo I see on the bottom of MOST retail boxes is licensed, public domain, owned by ESRB, and if it costs anything?
Does anyone know anything about that? (please indicate in your reply if you are guessing, certain, or you know for 100% fact). A link to a website that discusses it has extra brownie points :)
Does anyone know anything about that? (please indicate in your reply if you are guessing, certain, or you know for 100% fact). A link to a website that discusses it has extra brownie points :)
#3
Anyone know of other standardized logos that retailers are likely to accept OTHER than IEMA/ESRB stuff?
03/06/2005 (3:48 pm)
Thank you Todd, am I the only one that thinks the rules to use an icon that essentially says "I'm PC compatible not MAC compatible" are excessive? Looks like I"m going to go with my own logo and bypass the miles of redtape associated with IEMA/ESRB. Worst case I can put a sticker overtop of my logos to add the ESRB ones if a retailer demands it.Anyone know of other standardized logos that retailers are likely to accept OTHER than IEMA/ESRB stuff?
#4
http://www.uc-council.org/ean_ucc_system/index.html
In my experience, from having games in stores, you don't need a standardized logo. Our games have been in EB Games, CompUSA, Game (in Europe) as well as online stores like amazon, hastings, and others. They've never used those logos. So you don't need this logo apparently. You will want a UPC barcode though. Most stores won't accept your game without it. Also, you'll want it there for your own purposes. There is a basic membership fee.
We've never used the ratings logo either. Just our own little graphic saying: Everyone, Violence.
03/07/2005 (9:44 am)
UPC *I know its not actually a logo. http://www.uc-council.org/ean_ucc_system/index.html
In my experience, from having games in stores, you don't need a standardized logo. Our games have been in EB Games, CompUSA, Game (in Europe) as well as online stores like amazon, hastings, and others. They've never used those logos. So you don't need this logo apparently. You will want a UPC barcode though. Most stores won't accept your game without it. Also, you'll want it there for your own purposes. There is a basic membership fee.
We've never used the ratings logo either. Just our own little graphic saying: Everyone, Violence.
#5
Without turning this into a debate on the ESRB, the problem with doing that is that it is misleading. Your interpretation of Everyone and violence may differ from the ESRBs and seeing that people might assume that it was officially rated and thus defeats the purpose. IMO if you don't want to go through the work for the ESRB logo you should just avoid self-rating it.
@Noone
As for the PC-CDROM logo, as far as I can tell, it barely looks like much paperwork at all. The rules to use that icon aren't excessive really. They are there to make sure that it is used properly, just as anyone would want if their copyright and trademark were being used.
03/07/2005 (10:04 am)
@EricQuote:We've never used the ratings logo either. Just our own little graphic saying: Everyone, Violence.
Without turning this into a debate on the ESRB, the problem with doing that is that it is misleading. Your interpretation of Everyone and violence may differ from the ESRBs and seeing that people might assume that it was officially rated and thus defeats the purpose. IMO if you don't want to go through the work for the ESRB logo you should just avoid self-rating it.
@Noone
As for the PC-CDROM logo, as far as I can tell, it barely looks like much paperwork at all. The rules to use that icon aren't excessive really. They are there to make sure that it is used properly, just as anyone would want if their copyright and trademark were being used.
#6
It's a bit flattering and a bit disturbing at the same time. I wished I'd been asked before someone just decided to use it. The real issue is the non-commercial nature of Tribal IDE, and how many people already have an install.
Just venting a bit I guess.
-Gabe
03/07/2005 (7:26 pm)
This is actually funny to me. I recentyly discovered the "unauthorized" use of one of my icons in a product a lot of us know and love "Tribal IDE." I am currently using Beta 3.9OS. From the main menu you select Edit -> Preferences. The icon used for the Debugger. The red ant is an icon I developed for a now forgotton bug tracking tool... Bug Cracker. I modeled this red ant in a 3D tool (don't remeber which, it was a whil ago) and then generated several versions of the image from larger jpgs used for adds and banners, down to this icon and a smaller bmp for speed button use.It's a bit flattering and a bit disturbing at the same time. I wished I'd been asked before someone just decided to use it. The real issue is the non-commercial nature of Tribal IDE, and how many people already have an install.
Just venting a bit I guess.
-Gabe
#7
03/07/2005 (9:47 pm)
@Todd -We weren't required to use it by retail outlets. That was my point.
Torque Owner Todd D. Degani
Their rules for using the logo can be found here.