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by HardyLeung 5500 days ago
Like I said in the other comment, I did study this issue (to understand under what condition I can offer Tagxedo to users and when I can sell Tagxedo artworks).

Use of the logo design is fine. The use of the entire essay with distillation of selected words is definitely fair use (very transformative). The word "Y Combinator" is ... generic, but I'd buy that this is subject to debate (and yes I did refer to pg's YC not the math term). OTOH I can argue that this is really a commentary of YC so ...

And I didn't do this out of profit motive. It is first and foremost a tribute. Second, Tagxedo as an entrepreneurial venture is partially inspired by pg and YC. Third, I spent several hours to process the text and come up with the best design (much more than I usually do). Unless somehow boatloads of orders come in, I don't see how I can break even time-wise (which I already knew before I started).

I offer Tagxedo for free and many kids love it. Teachers told me that Tagxedo opens their eyes, seeing words and languages not as boring, but fun and artsy. If there is a any hint of profit motive it is to perhaps allow me to justify continuing to offer Tagxedo to everyone for free.

That said, I might take it down if I get a C&D from Paul Graham and associates. I wouldn't mind if pg takes this and run with it (sans Zazzle), adding to the famed gray and black T-shirts :D
1 comments
MenaMena123 5500 days ago
Yea I understand where your coming from with the Tagxedo (which is really cool, minus the copyright issues that could arise), but putting it on Zazzle would be debatable. Not my debate.

Regardless, if its not made for profit, after one sale its profit. I mean its really cool and I'm not one to care about all the legal crap, but someone does at times.

As far as your break even it doesn't matter if its not your brand your working on. I can spend months designing something a court wont care if its not mine in the first place.

I wouldn't really worry about it.

I really think its cool, but I was just stating some matters.

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HardyLeung 5500 days ago
Appreciate. I agree that anytime I sell something I need to face the legal ramification, no matter how small the profit (or the nature of the profit). Any time a person uses someone else's property, even if it is fair use, there is the chance that it'll get messy. In fact the US copyright law almost answers the question of fair use by saying "it depends".

So I understood what you said and thanks for your feedback.

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