Show HN: Vector icons, but for viral memes | Hacker News Reader

Show HN: Vector icons, but for viral memes

streamlinehq.com

I guess this is a good place to plug a project I worked on, https://github.com/rben01/collagen . It lets you compose raster images and SVG shapes (including text) into another SVG, without re-encoding anything into a raster image. It's all just SVG. (Raster images are included via data: urls.)

I bring it up here because it's flip side of TFA. Instead of vectorizing memes, you can just take any old image you have, or a link to an image, and stick it in an SVG with some text on top, without actually having to write the SVG by hand. So an input like [this](https://gist.github.com/rben01/c0f51d8481c3ba8bd0ac108ac0b5a...) produces an output like [this](https://gist.github.com/rben01/23d01aa2668acc64cf4cffa815cb9...) (YMMV whether a linked image works in an SVG; I think in secure contexts it doesn't, but if you just copy paste the SVG into JSFiddle it should work).

Much easier than crafting memes by hand.

While in this topic, does anyone know if memes can be legally used in printed/ebooks for free? Heck I don't even mind paying (reasonable fee), but I can't seem to find a "Fonts.com" for memes.

Edit: Thanks for the replies, but as I expected the answer is "it depends", so I guess I'll sparingly use it and see how it goes. In case anyone interested, the book is about building mobile apps, https://opinionatedlaunch.com/ (work in progress)

If there is no meme about forbidden memes than this has to be legal. Yellow Smile the first meme was not patented because its creator did not considered how popular it becomes. I think every super popular meme has its similar story.

Huh? Patents have nothing to do with it, unless you were granted a license to use it then it is copyright infringement by definition. Whether they sue you over it is a different matter.

There is such a thing as a design patent that could cover something like the smiley.

> design patents do not protect pictures, images, graphic designs, patterns or any other 2-dimensional visual imagery in the abstract. A patented design must be tied to an article of manufacture. In fact, the patent examination manual known as the MPEP requires that each design patent application specify the article of manufacture in the title and claim.

It's usually called 'smiley face' in English.

It depends.

Memes are not some special class of imagery; if the image used along with whatever text slapped onto it was specifically created as shareable art, then you are 'merely' in a legal gray zone unless the author provides an explicit licence statement (e.g., placing it in the public domain, or under some Creative Commons licence).

If it is the type of meme where a photo is reused, than chances are pretty high that that photo is (of) a copyrighted work, and the meme thus a derivative work. The same rules for any other type of photo apply: figure out if what you are doing is fair use, or needs attribution, or needs a licence agreement with the rights holder(s).

You may also need to look out for relevant laws beyond copyright; like the person in the photo suffering as a consequence of it being reposted (as nauseam) on the internet suing under whatever law is applicable. Johnny Memeposter on Facebook won't be sued, but your publisher might.

Also repeat the above for all relevant jurisdictions.

Thanks for your support and questions!

We're thrilled to announce that our Vector Meme set is now open source, under the GNU GPL license. Our goal was always to bring some lighthearted fun - not claim property rights over these cool memes. So it's nice & clear now!

We're also keeping "Pepe the Frog" - even though it was corrupted by use from the Alt-Right, its original intent as a fun cartoon is still widely recognized. Plus, it's used in many non-political memes too!

I might use these. I always wanted to get into making memes instead of just sharing them. These can be easily added to (rasterized) images to remix the original image, which is great. I've also wanted to birth a meme, as in, instead of just rehashing an old joke, I created the joke and it gets shared widely, sort of like some legacy that I contributed to cyberspace.

Or maybe I should just use 4chan more and try and get an image trending. That's how it's done right?

If you make a meme with these, you will probably be bullied. The imperfections of the ms paint lines are part of the charm to the original images.

Academic side-note: an excellent book about memes, culture, genetics, evolution, and life is by one of my favorite philosophers: Daniel C. Dennett

From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds

https://www.amazon.com/Bacteria-Bach-Back-Evolution-Minds/dp...

No license statement?

Meme culture rejects licenses.

As long as it's not a photo showing them or the loved ones, or a piece of art they created themselves. 'Meme culture' mostly seems to reject licences because it's a bother, not out of idealism.

That's a perfectly valid reason. Requiring a license for everything is pathological. Unlimited license for anything is also problematic, as you point out, but there should be some principle of balance between moral obligation and administrative overhead.

We already have corporate entities that claim ownership of particular words or colors, not because they invented them but because they laid claim to them and want to extract rents therefrom. Branding serves a rational commercial function, but when taken to extremes it begins a resemble a form of psychic territorial aggression.

I am not a lawyer, but these icons are necessarily public domain works, if we consider they are made out of geometric shapes that are too simple to be copyrighted (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threshold_of_originality). Claiming copyright on these icons would mean they are derivative works, which would mean OP violated the copyright of the original works.

It's at the bottom of the page: https://www.streamlinehq.com/license-free

Linkware license: "You can use these assets for free in your projects, even in commercial works. All you need to do is add a link back to the Streamline Icons (www.streamlinehq.com) website."

An elements of viral social cultural with jokes. Simpler drawn and only one color that you can adapt to your context.

They look great, I like the idea a lot. Awesome work!

thank you!

No O'RLY? owl?

No Willy Wonka "Do Tell"?

No Philosoraptor?

Apparently, we are now required to add Adele to the mix.

Those are very cool, I wish there'd be a bit more inventory though.

Yay, thanks for the feedback! Streamline's known for its massive, consistent sets so we're absolutely going to add more soon. Even more so because the love we've received from the community is incredible. Would you want to bookmark that page or (if you're feeling lazy) sign up on our newsletter: https://www.streamlinehq.com/newsletter? Thanks again, much appreciated!

These are great

Regardless of where you stand on the 'Pepe the Frog is a hate symbol' issue, you might want to reconsider including it. The Wikipedia page¹ is fairly informative.

1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepe_the_Frog

Thank you for the helping us stay culturally sensitive and mindful. We hadn't known this.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com