Use of Microsoft clip art on my website.

[Robert McN]

Can anyone confirm with certainty if it is ok to use photo clip art on
website that is drawn from Microsoft's Office Online? My website is for my
own for-profit company, but I'm building the website myself. Can I use the
photos that I typically download for my PowerPoint presentations in my
website as well. If so, how should I give credit? Is it necessary to give
credit?
Thanks,
Bob

 

[Luc]

Robert,
As far as I know you can use the clipart, providing you do not integrate it
in a logo or use it on all sorts of promotional material like T-shirts and
the like. As long as you do not sell them.
See here for some further info:
http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/permissions/default.mspx#E4
Of course to be on the safe side you could also contact Microsoft directly.

 

[Robert McN]

Good morning Luc,
Thanks for your reply. It was very helpful. I followed the link and it
says I can use clip art for personal noncommercial use, but of course it is
used in commercial presentations every day by the millions of companies that
use MS Office. It says I can't use it in advertising, but it doesn't say if
I can use it in a website.

You suggested I contact Microsoft. It's a big company and not easy to talk
to real human beings. Do you have any idea who & how to contact?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Robert McN]

Steve,
You make a good point. Thanks.
Bob

As you've probably noticed, if you follow the links on the page Luc sent you to,
you end up in a loop if you try to find a way to contact MS. Frustrating.

It might be simpler just to delete the MS-supplied content and purchase a clip
art collection that clearly specifies what usage rights you do and don't have,
or at least that provides a way of contacting someone for permission.



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Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
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