come on ...

the guy want's to recreate Aero on Windows XP. there is really no need to reinvent the wheel here, especially since there i can see no intention to upload it.

also: of course it is theft if he uses MS's graphics. but this topic is one of the many hypocrisies in skinning. just look at the top ten most popular WindowBlinds skins of all time at Wincustomize. i can see two OSX rips here. and that "7 plus" skin, even if it would be all original graphics (i doubt that), is so close it is at least tradedress infringement.

you can say "fair use", "grey area" or "will be taken down if they demand it". i don't care, i'm fine with OS rips, it's an essential part of skinning actually.

Has anyone checked out his site? Did you know he is hosting "Pre-activated" versions of paid software? Just google TrickTrackers-MJN, I'm not going to link to it for obvious reasons.

I checked it out and yes...that is exactly what he is doing. Also he has posts in Stardock forums and Sins of a Solar Empire asking for graphics. Something does not jive here.

now that's pretty bad

In the Stardock forumd he says he's new to DX. Same thing in Sins forums only there he's asking about Rebellion graphics. I went there but his post has mysteriously vanished, at least I didn't find it on any of the four pages. Am I imagining things? It just stinks!

You can use anyone's graphics to do with as you please, as long as it's for personal use only. Looks like you share what isn't yours to share.

Me thinks me smells the Jafonator.......

Tricky, try learning Photoshop, gimp, paint, whatever. None of us were born knowing how, we learned.  

I know a little bit. Want to see..................... I think I made his nose too big.

first of all: i did not accuse. i repeat again: os rips are fine with me.

what i was saying is: this skin is an os rip. are you seriously trying to tell me a skin that is called "Seven Plus" that looks very much like Aero is not copied from MS's design? such os rips are cool with me, it's much like a remix of a song.

it was mainly a response to "create your own, so you don't need permission". i agree with that, but in this particular case it does not really apply. os rips have been tolerated all the time, actually even defended by the skinning community (remember Dangeruss' WinAqua? ... skinning history )

Yes, that's about the size of it.

Anyone into GUI/Shell creation has [or will have] "borrowed" from an existing OS version's graphics to emulate or improve/alter.

This IS PART OF SKINNING .....[and moshi should know....he's been at it as long as just about anyone].

Yes, it's essentially 'ripping' but in ALL these years I can recall only two times there has been an issue from the OWNERS of the graphics....once with Apple...and once with MS..... yet everyone is 'inspired' [at least] by the original OS GUI.

....and re '7 plus' and 'trade dress infringement'....ask Kol.... [that was one of those instances]...

I  did not ask for graphics in the

sorry but i did not post a request for graphics in that forums,,, i just gave a solution for their runtime errors...

thanks RND i wil go for it... I have little knowledge of adobe photoshop but didnt know about transparency is supported.. 

i wil check it out now...