h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I always thought we should have a smiley of that, ever since I saw my first h2g2 smileys I thought that one was surely missing. I fought a brick wall for many years trying to get support for one, but I lost that battle.


Just have to settle for and .

Ooooh, that would have been a great smiley.

I also wasn't sure whether this picture can be used because of the copyright issue, but got permission.

When I was doing battle, I tried to see if there were any copyright issues, and I don't believe there were. I just couldn't prove it outright. The folks in control then were adamant to play it safe and wouldn't even consider it. Copyright law is too often used as a bludgeon. Even without a threat of copyright infringement, many folks are just too cowered by the idea to risk anything. That's not what copyright was originally intended for.

I blame folks like the Disney Corporation for making copyright law the oppressive tool that it has become.

Anyways, your image is altered more than adequately from the original and the manner it is being used should fall under "fair use".

Share and Enjoy

You think it has no copyright? That would be interesting.

Yes, I altered it quite a bit, that's right.

I'm sure the original North American book covers have their copyrights, but the basic icon was used in various forms for video games, tv show video covers, various promotions, etc. Best I can tell not all were by the same artist.

My point was that a tiny little smiley probably wouldn't be considered to infringe on the original artist's copyright, especially considering that this is h2g2.

To be honest, I know of a rather 'adult' website that uses nearly a direct version of the original design. If anyone would have had copyright issues, it would have been them.

Very interesting, now I want such a smiley.

Here, read through this. If it doesn't put you off the idea altogether, you'll at least understand why I gave up.

F20473?thread=310776

That's a really awful thread.

Yea. I was facing a lot of negativity in that thread, but deep into it there is some good info regarding the original art work and who did it including links. (No telling if those links are still active of course.)

I'll search for them tomorrow, I feel it's too late today for such 'literature'.

Since I'm doubtful the links are even still live, It's probably not worth it. I can't bring myself to read very far into it, even.