September 9, 2019
Icon Policy for Design Submissions
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Overview
Topcoder Design Challenges either allow or disallow stock icons as part of the creative process. It is critical that you review what is allowed or not allowed in each challenge, and if the policy is not clear, you ask in the respective challenge forum.
When stock icons are allowed, you must treat them like “stock photos.” You are not allowed to edit stock icons and claim them as your artwork. You are not allowed to trace stock icons and claim them as your artwork. Stock icons are only allowed in design challenges that allow “Stock Icons.” Stock icons do not require watermarks, but they do require proper source documentation and attribution.
Every challenge clearly states whether or not Stock Icons are allowed. If the challenge allows stock icons, you will need to abide by the following rules:
You must document your Stock Icons when submitting.
Goal: Help customers find your stock Icons for purchase and usage during development.
If you use any Stock Icons (anything!) in your design, it MUST BE DOCUMENTED.
When documenting your icons, you must provide a link to every icon family you are using, or to each unique icon. It is essential that everything is easy to find and is from Topcoder approved sources.
Alternatively, you can provide the source only, disregarding each link. Nevertheless, you may be asked to disclose each link for each icon.
Example: “Icons taken from Iconmonstr and FlatIcon”
You are ONLY ALLOWED to use Stock Icons from these approved sources:
SVG/ Vector Format:
You MUST use SVG or vector versions of icons.
DO NOT use PNG, JPG, or GIF formats.
If you create your own icons
Write down the description of each icon and where to find it in the design.
Make sure they are in a vector format and included in your designs AND as separate files as part of your submission. We need to easily be able to download/ export SVG versions of all icons in your designs.
If the challenge does not allow Stock Icons, it will clearly state this in the challenge details page.
Client Supplied Assets: Any assets supplied as part of a challenge can be used in your designs. These assets MUST still be declared as part of your submission.
Things to Remember
We screen all design submissions for copyright infringement and proper source documentation.
DO NOT COPY OR TRACE EXISTING ARTWORK OR ICONS
Ensure you understand the Topcoder Terms, Official Design Contest Rules, and check each contest for more information and what is allowed in that challenge before you submit.
Make sure ALL icons are vector/ SVG
No PNG, JPG, or GIF (raster) icons allowed.
Resources
Declaration File Template (example).
How To Prepare Design Submissions File.
Guide to Never Fail Screening