Hello together,

I'm member of the maintenance team of Back In Time. It is a backup software for GNU/Linux using rsync in the back. The application is over 15 years old and we are the 3rd generation of maintainers. Everything is voluntary. No one gets payed. No company behind.

The application don't have it's own logo. We are looking for an artist offering her or his talent to the project. It is "only" about the application logo and not a full icon set. But I'm aware that also "only" a logo his much work.

We are free for suggestions about a logo and don't stick to our current ideas. Actually we would like to have a "flux capacitor" logo because of the "Back In Time" topic.

I was able to find some icons like this on icon websites. But they are not clear about the licence and who is the artist. I don't feel well about just using one of that public available icons.

Would be glad if some of you consider offering your talent.

Kind regards,

Christian Buhtz

I am sure there are many capable artists and creators around here who could assist.

When I click on the link in your post, I get a 404 error. Why?

I am not sure if there is some kind of copyright restriction on that "flux capicator" wording, usage, or design restrictions. Has anyone on your end verified ahead of things that using such wording and/or elements is legally allowed?

 Folks may not want to donate their time and effort freely ... if they themselves know that their work could not be safely and legally used for your endeavors. There may be some kind of verbiage work-a-round or restrictions on what is allowed. And that whole investigation probably needs resolved before parties will choose to help or not. My 2 cents.

I fixed the link. It was a typo on by me.

I don't want to use the term "flux capacitor" in the application. It just describe the picture in words. You mean it could be a trademark like coca cola? How can I know? We don't have money for a lawyer.

Beside that term, we are free for other suggestion for a nice backup software logo. It don't need to be a time machine.

Hi again. I do not know if the phrase is copyright, licensed or the like. There was a very popular movie made years ago called "Back to the Future" which had that phrase in it and several well paid actors in the film. And merchandise associated with that phrase and movie was sold. That is why I mentioned the possibility or likelihood of legal restrictions. That kind of research or vetting would need to be known clearly so there would not be a waste of time or effort or ... to form refined expectations of what can be "accepted" or developed.

As an example, Inkscape has developed a tool called the Shape Builder Tool. Other software has used the same term yet folks within the Inkscape community have checked into the legal freedom to use that phrase and associate with it. The tool exists as a working part of Inkscape and is identified with that name. In similar fashion, you could refer to a "Mickey Mouse" character. We all would know what you mean and to a point could make similar depictions of it. Yet there are restrictions on what can be made and titled and similarities to it. 

Any willing designer or artist can step in and offer their skills and knowledge about what you are hoping to get, what you are expecting for free and what to avoid.

Let's not over-complicate this. The "flux-capacitor" is fictitious and the term is not going to be used.

The challenge is to make something unique, considering all the variations for backup logos found online.

I suggest a stylized word-mark that may (or may not) suggest three filaments in a Y configuration.

One idea, two versions, three styles. Just to have a hit.

Dear Razr,

thanks a lot for your work and time. I mentioned your idea and draft in the projects related issue ticket. I'm not the only one who decides because maintenance is done be a team.

I am not particularly demanding about an icon. It just need to be something individual that will be recognized by the users. In fact your idea do fit to this needs. I like it.

Beside of such details how would it be about licences. I'm not experienced and familiar about things like this. I don't know the correct terms. How would you name an icon/art-product that I would call "closed source"? I only remember that I read somewhere that in an open source (GPL) project it is no problem to have components (e.g. icons) that are not part of that GPL. I totally understand if an artist won't make the product "free" in the meaning of everyone can use and modify it.

Does anyone of you have experience with this?

Kind

Christian

I love the hourglass as a symbol. I shall "steal" it.

If the project has a legal entity, I'd copyright the image and trademark the name and image.

Maybe use a signature color? I'm not sure.

Hi, Christian,

I'm also not sure what the correct copyright procedure is in this case. I mean, if I set a public domain attribute, You can use the drawings, but so can everyone else. Not sure if that serves your purposes. So I'm also waiting for someone who understands this part of copyright.

@razr, In this case, you are the copyright holder (as creator), unless you regard the design as "work for hire"; in which case, the back-in-time project holds the copyright, with Christian as the agent/rep who contracted you to create the the design. 

The Inkscape project developers can probably offer some insights. https://chat.inkscape.org/channel/team_devel

Looking at it after a day, I thought the draft versions would be better with a little more contrast.

I drew a Flux Capacitor

Logo

Maybe this

3D :)

Improved 3D

Thanks a lot for all your ideas and your drafts.

We will take this into account. We need to discuss this in the team and make some decisions. This will take some time because all team members do their work in the project voluntary and not on a regular basis.

Kind

Christian

Since the requirement changed to a non Flux Capacitor logo, I shared these too

More concepts shared based on discussion with the " Back in Time " team

More concepts shared based on inputs

Hello together,

I would like to inform that we have a decision in the project about an icon.