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Fix asset licensing notices (#11468)

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ASSETS.md
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# Asset licensing
The [MIT license](./LICENSE) in this repository covers our source code. It does not cover
every file in the tree.
The [MIT license](./LICENSE) in this repository covers our source code. It does not cover every file in the tree.
Some of the images, icons, fonts, and brand assets here are licensed to Bluesky Social PBC
by third parties, or are our trademarks, or are third-party trademarks. We cannot pass those
rights on to you. This document identifies them.
Some of the images, icons, fonts, and brand assets here are licensed to Bluesky Social PBC by third parties, or are our trademarks, or are third-party trademarks. We cannot pass those rights on to you. This document identifies them and names who holds them.
We should have written this down sooner. If you have already forked this repository and
shipped one of the assets listed below, we are not treating that as bad faith on your part —
the repository did not tell you, and that is our fault. Please work through the
[If you are forking](#if-you-are-forking) checklist when you can.
## This is not a license change
Assets are scoped by directory wherever possible, so that adding a file to a carved-out
directory does not require an edit here. Individual paths are listed only where an asset does
not sit in a dedicated directory.
The MIT license on our source code is unchanged. This document records rights that Bluesky never held, and therefore could never have granted you.
**The rule:** if a file is listed in this document, the MIT license does not grant you rights
to it. Everything in [Section 6](#6-third-party-assets-you-may-redistribute) is redistributable
on its own terms, which travel with the files.
We updated this file in August 2026 so the repository no longer carries a blanket MIT license with no asset carve-out and forking guidelines that ignored commissioned artwork.
For the assets Bluesky itself owns, we are not treating anyone's past use as bad faith. For the rest we are not the rights holder. The tables below name them. If you have shipped one of these in a fork, the [If you are forking](#if-you-are-forking) checklist is the shortest path to a clean position.
## Summary
| Where | Rights holder | Our MIT license covers it? | If you fork |
|---|---|---|---|
| [`assets/illustrations/`](#1-commissioned-artwork--licensed-to-bluesky-only) | Owen D. Pomery, via Brilliant Artists Ltd | No | Replace |
| [`assets/icons/`](#2-licensed-icon-system--not-ours-to-pass-on) (top level), Central icon glyphs in `bskyembed/assets/` except the Starter Pack mark | Iconists (David & Storm GbR) | No | Source your own |
| [Bluesky marks](#3-bluesky-trademarks-and-brand-assets) — app icons, logos, favicons | Bluesky Social PBC | No | Replace |
| [`assets/kawaii.png`, `assets/kawaii_smol.png`](#4-community-and-contest-artwork--credited-but-not-ours-to-license) | [@sawaratsuki.bsky.social](https://bsky.app/profile/sawaratsuki.bsky.social) | No | Replace or remove |
| [`assets/icons/custom_logo_japan.svg`](#4-community-and-contest-artwork--credited-but-not-ours-to-license) | A Bluesky Japan logo contest entrant | No | Replace or remove |
| [`assets/icons/apple_logo.svg`](#5-third-party-trademarks) | Apple Inc. | No | Rests on your own basis |
| [`assets/icons/android_logo.svg`](#5-third-party-trademarks) | Google LLC | No | Rests on your own basis |
| [`assets/icons/community/`](#5-third-party-trademarks) | Leaflet, Offprint, pckt, Standard.site, Germ Network | No | Rests on your own basis |
| [`assets/fonts/inter/`](#6-third-party-assets-you-may-redistribute), Inter files in `bskyogcard/src/assets/fonts/` | The Inter Project Authors | Separate — OFL 1.1 | **Keep, with the notice** |
| [Noto fonts downloaded by `bskyogcard/scripts/install-fonts.ts`](#6-third-party-assets-you-may-redistribute) | Adobe, Google LLC, and The Noto Project Authors | Separate — OFL 1.1 | **Keep, with the notice** |
| [`assets/icons/flags/`](#6-third-party-assets-you-may-redistribute) | @catamphetamine | Separate — MIT | **Keep, with the license** |
| [`bskyweb/static/media/MaterialIcons.*.ttf`](#6-third-party-assets-you-may-redistribute) | Google, Inc. | Separate — Apache 2.0 | **Keep, with the notice** |
| [`assets/images/`](#7-product-imagery--provenance-being-documented) | Mixed, and not yet fully documented — see Section 7 | No | Replace or ship without |
Everything in [Section 6](#6-third-party-assets-you-may-redistribute) is already permissively licensed. It is the largest group of files listed here and it needs no action from you beyond keeping the notices in place.
Assets are scoped by directory wherever possible, so that adding a file to a carved-out directory does not require an edit here. Individual paths are listed only where an asset does not sit in a dedicated directory.
---
@@ -26,54 +40,31 @@ on its own terms, which travel with the files.
**`assets/illustrations/`**
The landing-screen illustration, in light and dark variants, used by
`src/view/com/auth/SplashScreen.tsx` (`illustration-mobile.png` and
`illustration-mobile-dark.png`).
The landing-screen illustration, in light and dark variants (`assets/illustrations/illustration-mobile.png` and `assets/illustrations/illustration-mobile-dark.png`), used by `src/view/com/auth/SplashScreen.tsx`.
This artwork was commissioned by Bluesky Social PBC from illustrator Owen D. Pomery, through
his agent Brilliant Artists Ltd. Copyright remains with the artist. Our license is limited to
Bluesky's own products and channels, it is exclusive to us, and it does not permit us to
sublicense the artwork or to distribute modified versions of it.
**Rights holder: Owen D. Pomery**, represented by Brilliant Artists Ltd. Bluesky Social PBC commissioned the work and holds a usage license. Copyright remains with the artist. Our license is limited to Bluesky's own products and channels, is exclusive to us, and does not permit us to sublicense the artwork or to distribute modified versions of it.
**If you are forking this repository, replace these files.** Because our license is exclusive, the artwork is not available for separate third-party licensing while that license runs. Please do not approach the artist or his agent for permission — the constraint is our agreement, not their willingness. If you have already shipped it, contact us and we will help you sort it out rather than leaving you to guess.
**If you are forking this repository, replace these files.** They are not available for
third-party licensing while our license runs, so please do not contact the artist or his agent
to request permission — the answer is constrained by our agreement, not by their willingness.
See [`assets/illustrations/README.md`](./assets/illustrations/README.md).
## 2. Licensed icon system — not ours to pass on
**`assets/icons/` (top level), and the icon glyphs in `bskyembed/assets/`**
**`assets/icons/` (top level), and the Central icon glyphs in `bskyembed/assets/`, except `bskyembed/assets/starterPack.svg`**
The user-interface glyphs at the top level of `assets/icons/`, plus copies of several in
`bskyembed/assets/`, come from the Central icon system by Iconists (David & Storm GbR). Bluesky
Social PBC licenses these icons for use in our own products. **That license is for our own use.
It does not include the right to pass any rights to the icons on to you.**
**Rights holder: Iconists (David & Storm GbR).** The user-interface glyphs come from their [Central icon system](https://iconists.co/central). Bluesky Social PBC licenses them for use in our own products. **That license is for our own use. It does not include the right to pass any rights to the icons on to you.**
This is not us telling you that you cannot use these icons. It is us telling you that any right
you have to use them has to come from Iconists rather than from us, and that you should not
assume our MIT license gave you one. Licenses are available directly from
[iconists.co](https://iconists.co), and there are good openly licensed alternatives if you would
rather not buy one.
The fact that we have our own license does not mean that you cannot use these icons. It means that any right you have to use them has to come from Iconists, not us. Licenses are available from [iconists.co](https://iconists.co), and there are openly licensed alternatives if you prefer that.
This section covers every file at the top level of `assets/icons/` **except** those named
elsewhere in this document — specifically `logomark.svg`, `newskie.svg`, `verifiedCheck.svg`,
`verifierCheck.svg`, `starterPack.svg`, `starterPack_stroke2_corner0_rounded.svg`, `custom_logo_japan.svg`,
`apple_logo.svg`, and `android_logo.svg`. The `assets/icons/flags/` and `assets/icons/community/`
subdirectories are covered by [Section 6](#6-third-party-assets-you-may-redistribute) and
[Section 5](#5-third-party-trademarks) respectively.
This section covers every file at the top level of `assets/icons/` **except** those named elsewhere in this document — specifically `assets/icons/logomark.svg`, `assets/icons/newskie.svg`, `assets/icons/verifiedCheck.svg`, `assets/icons/verifierCheck.svg`, `assets/icons/starterPack.svg`, `assets/icons/starterPack_stroke2_corner0_rounded.svg`, `assets/icons/custom_logo_japan.svg`, `assets/icons/apple_logo.svg`, and `assets/icons/android_logo.svg`. The `assets/icons/flags/` and `assets/icons/community/` subdirectories are covered by [Section 6](#6-third-party-assets-you-may-redistribute) and [Section 5](#5-third-party-trademarks) respectively.
See [`assets/icons/README.md`](./assets/icons/README.md).
## 3. Bluesky trademarks and brand assets
Our name, logo, butterfly mark, logotype, and app icons are trademarks of Bluesky Social PBC.
They are not licensed to you under the MIT license or by this document. Use of them is governed
by our [Trademark Policy](https://bsky.social/about/support/trademarks) and [Brand Guidelines](https://bsky.social/about/support/branding).
**Rights holder: Bluesky Social PBC.** Our name, logo, butterfly mark, logotype, and app icons are our trademarks. They are not licensed to you under the MIT license or by this document. Use of them is governed by our [Trademark Policy](https://bsky.social/about/support/trademarks) and [Brand Guidelines](https://bsky.social/about/support/branding).
You may refer to Bluesky by name to describe interoperability or origin — for example, "a client
for Bluesky," or "based on the Bluesky app." You may not use our marks as the identity of your
own product or service, or in any way likely to suggest that Bluesky publishes, endorses, or
supports it.
You may refer to Bluesky by name to describe interoperability or origin — for example, "a client for Bluesky," or "based on the Bluesky app." You may not use our marks as the identity of your own product or service, or in any way likely to suggest that Bluesky publishes, endorses, or supports it.
- `assets/app-icons/` — all iOS and Android app icon variants, including the `.icon` bundles
- `assets/favicon.png`
@@ -89,120 +80,106 @@ supports it.
- `assets/icons/newskie.svg`
- `assets/icons/verifiedCheck.svg`
- `assets/icons/verifierCheck.svg`
- `assets/icons/starterPack.svg`, `assets/icons/starterPack_stroke2_corner0_rounded.svg`
- `assets/icons/starterPack.svg`
- `assets/icons/starterPack_stroke2_corner0_rounded.svg`
- `bskyembed/assets/logo.svg`
- `bskyembed/assets/logo_full_name.svg`
- `bskyweb/static/favicon.png`, `favicon-16x16.png`, `favicon-32x32.png`
- `bskyembed/assets/starterPack.svg`
- `bskyweb/static/favicon.png`
- `bskyweb/static/favicon-16x16.png`
- `bskyweb/static/favicon-32x32.png`
- `bskyweb/static/apple-touch-icon.png`
- `bskyweb/static/safari-pinned-tab.svg`
- `bskyweb/static/social-card-default.png`, `bskyweb/static/social-card-default-gradient.png`
- `bskyweb/embedr-static/favicon.png`, `favicon-16x16.png`, `favicon-32x32.png`
- `bskyweb/static/social-card-default.png`
- `bskyweb/static/social-card-default-gradient.png`
- `bskyweb/embedr-static/favicon.png`
- `bskyweb/embedr-static/favicon-16x16.png`
- `bskyweb/embedr-static/favicon-32x32.png`
- `modules/BlueskyClip/Images.xcassets/AppIcon.appiconset/`
- Inline vector path data in `src/view/icons/Logo.tsx` and `src/view/icons/Logotype.tsx`
- Inline vector path data in `src/view/icons/Logo.tsx`, `src/view/icons/Logomark.tsx`, `src/view/icons/LogomarkWithType.tsx`, and `src/view/icons/Logotype.tsx`
We are not asking anyone to remove these files from the repository. They are here because the
app needs them to build. Replacing them is a forker's responsibility, not ours.
These files stay in this repository because the app needs them to build. **If you fork, replace them with your own** — that is the one thing this section asks of you. Shipping an app that looks like Bluesky is also a problem under the app stores' own rules on copycat apps, quite apart from trademark.
## 4. Community and contest artwork — credited, but not ours to license
These are third-party artworks that appear in the app with attribution. We hold no license that
lets us pass rights to them on to you.
These are third-party artworks that appear in the app with attribution. We hold no license that lets us pass rights to them on to you.
- `assets/kawaii.png`, `assets/kawaii_smol.png` — logo by
[@sawaratsuki.bsky.social](https://bsky.app/profile/sawaratsuki.bsky.social), shown as an
opt-in variant and credited in `src/view/shell/Drawer.tsx` and
`src/view/shell/desktop/RightNav.tsx`
- `assets/icons/custom_logo_japan.svg` — the winning entry from the Bluesky Japan logo contest,
created by a contest entrant
- `assets/kawaii.png` and `assets/kawaii_smol.png` — **rights holder:
[@sawaratsuki.bsky.social](https://bsky.app/profile/sawaratsuki.bsky.social)**. Shown as an opt-in variant and credited in `src/view/shell/Drawer.tsx` and `src/view/shell/desktop/RightNav.tsx`.
- `assets/icons/custom_logo_japan.svg` — **rights holder: the entrant who won the Bluesky Japan logo contest.**
Replace these if you fork. If you want to use them, that is a conversation with the artist,
not with us.
Replace or remove these if you fork. If you want to use them, contact the artist.
## 5. Third-party trademarks
These marks belong to other companies. We include them to identify their services in our UI —
sign-in buttons, store badges, and links to third-party applications. We are neither granting
nor withholding permission, because it is not ours to give. Your use of them rests on your own
nominative-use basis or on permission from the mark owner.
These marks belong to other companies. We include them to identify their services in our UI — sign-in buttons, store badges, and links to third-party applications. We are neither granting nor withholding permission, because it is not ours to give. Your use of them rests on your own nominative-use basis or on permission from the mark owner.
- `assets/icons/apple_logo.svg` — Apple Inc.
- `assets/icons/android_logo.svg` — Google LLC
- `assets/icons/community/` — Leaflet, Offprint, pckt (`pckt.svg`, `pckt-full.svg`),
Standard.site, and Germ Network (`germ_logo.webp`)
- `assets/icons/apple_logo.svg` — **Apple Inc.**
- `assets/icons/android_logo.svg` — **Google LLC**
- `assets/icons/community/leaflet.svg` — **Leaflet**
- `assets/icons/community/offprint.svg` — **Offprint**
- `assets/icons/community/pckt.svg` and `assets/icons/community/pckt-full.svg` — **pckt**
- `assets/icons/community/standard-site.svg` — **Standard.site**
- `assets/icons/community/germ_logo.webp` — **Germ Network**
Apple's and Google's marks in particular carry their own brand guidelines governing size,
spacing, and permitted contexts. If you ship a sign-in button or a store badge, follow theirs,
not ours.
Apple's and Google's marks in particular carry their own brand guidelines governing size, spacing, and permitted contexts. If you ship a sign-in button or a store badge, follow their guidelines.
## 6. Third-party assets you may redistribute
These are licensed on terms that permit redistribution. Nothing in this document restricts them.
Their license text travels with the files, and you must keep it there.
These are licensed on terms that permit redistribution. Nothing in this document restricts them. We list them so you know they are safe, and so you know to carry their notices. This is the largest group of assets in this document.
| Asset | Path | License | Notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter typeface | `assets/fonts/inter/` | SIL Open Font License 1.1 | [`OFL.txt`](./assets/fonts/inter/OFL.txt) |
| Inter typeface (OG card service) | `bskyogcard/src/assets/fonts/` | SIL Open Font License 1.1 | [`README.md`](./bskyogcard/src/assets/fonts/README.md) |
| country-flag-icons | `assets/icons/flags/` | MIT, © @catamphetamine | [`README.md`](./assets/icons/flags/README.md) |
| Material Icons | `bskyweb/static/media/MaterialIcons.*.ttf` | Apache License 2.0 | [`NOTICE.md`](./NOTICE.md) |
| Asset | Path | Rights holder | License | Notice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inter typeface | `assets/fonts/inter/`, `bskyogcard/src/assets/fonts/Inter-*.ttf` | The Inter Project Authors | SIL Open Font License 1.1 | [`OFL.txt`](./assets/fonts/inter/OFL.txt) |
| Noto Sans families (OG card service) | Downloaded by `bskyogcard/scripts/install-fonts.ts` | Adobe, Google LLC, and The Noto Project Authors | SIL Open Font License 1.1 | [`README.md`](./bskyogcard/src/assets/fonts/README.md) |
| country-flag-icons | `assets/icons/flags/` | @catamphetamine | MIT | [`LICENSE`](./assets/icons/flags/LICENSE) |
| Material Icons | `bskyweb/static/media/MaterialIcons.*.ttf` | Google, Inc. | Apache License 2.0 | [`NOTICE.md`](./NOTICE.md) |
Build output under `bskyweb/static/media/` also contains compiled Inter files. They are the same
OFL-licensed typeface, emitted by the web build.
Build output under `bskyweb/static/media/` also contains compiled Inter files. They are the same OFL-licensed typeface, emitted by the web build. The bundled Inter license does not designate a Reserved Font Name.
**One thing to watch on Inter:** OFL 1.1 includes a Reserved Font Name provision. If you modify
or subset the font, the result cannot be distributed under the name "Inter."
The OG card build downloads Noto Sans fonts into `bskyogcard/src/assets/fonts/` and copies them into its build output. Their copyright notices and OFL text are in [`bskyogcard/src/assets/fonts/OFL-NOTO.txt`](./bskyogcard/src/assets/fonts/OFL-NOTO.txt). The CJK fonts reserve the name "Source."
See [`NOTICE.md`](./NOTICE.md) for the consolidated third-party notices.
## 7. Product imagery — treat as not licensed to you
## 7. Product imagery — provenance being documented
**`assets/images/`**
Product illustration and announcement imagery — onboarding value-prop art, chat backgrounds,
feature announcement graphics, and similar.
Product illustration and announcement imagery — onboarding art, chat backgrounds, feature announcement graphics, and similar.
**Treat everything in this directory as outside the MIT license and not licensed for your use.**
Some of it is commissioned work. Rather than have you guess file by file which is which, we are
drawing the line at the directory.
**Rights holder: mixed, and we have not finished documenting it.** Some of this is Bluesky's own work. Some was commissioned from outside illustrators, on terms that do not let us pass rights on. We are working out which is which.
If you are forking, replace these or ship without them.
See [`assets/images/README.md`](./assets/images/README.md).
Until we have, **treat the whole directory as outside the MIT license and not licensed for your use.**
When this is resolved, one of two things will happen: this section will name the rights holder for each file, or the directory will be split so that the boundary itself carries the answer. If you need a specific file's status before then, ask us and we will find out.
If you are forking, replace these or ship without them. See [`assets/images/README.md`](./assets/images/README.md).
---
## If you are forking
You have our blessing to fork this application. To do it cleanly:
You have our blessing to fork this application. These steps map one-to-one to the sections above.
1. **Replace `assets/illustrations/`.** Commissioned artwork, licensed to Bluesky only. See
[Section 1](#1-commissioned-artwork--licensed-to-bluesky-only).
2. **Source your own UI icons.** The glyph set in `assets/icons/` is licensed to us for our own
use. See [Section 2](#2-licensed-icon-system--not-ours-to-pass-on).
3. **Replace `assets/images/`.** Treat as not licensed to you. See
[Section 7](#7-product-imagery--treat-as-not-licensed-to-you).
4. **Replace the Bluesky marks** listed in [Section 3](#3-bluesky-trademarks-and-brand-assets) —
app icons, favicons, logo files, and the inline logo paths in `src/view/icons/`.
5. **Replace or remove the community artwork** in
[Section 4](#4-community-and-contest-artwork--credited-but-not-ours-to-license).
6. **Check your own position on the third-party marks** in
[Section 5](#5-third-party-trademarks).
7. **Keep the license notices** for the assets in
[Section 6](#6-third-party-assets-you-may-redistribute).
8. **Change your branding, support links, and analytics** as described in the
[Forking guidelines](./README.md#forking-guidelines).
1. **Replace `assets/illustrations/`** — commissioned artwork, licensed to Bluesky only. [Section 1](#1-commissioned-artwork--licensed-to-bluesky-only)
2. **Source your own UI icons** — the glyph set in `assets/icons/` is licensed to us for our own use. [Section 2](#2-licensed-icon-system--not-ours-to-pass-on)
3. **Replace the Bluesky marks** — app icons, favicons, logo files, and the inline logo paths in `src/view/icons/`. [Section 3](#3-bluesky-trademarks-and-brand-assets)
4. **Replace or remove the community and contest artwork.** [Section 4](#4-community-and-contest-artwork--credited-but-not-ours-to-license)
5. **Check your own position on the third-party marks.** [Section 5](#5-third-party-trademarks)
6. **Keep the assets you may redistribute, and keep their notices with them.** [Section 6](#6-third-party-assets-you-may-redistribute)
7. **Replace `assets/images/`, or ship without it.** [Section 7](#7-product-imagery--provenance-being-documented)
This list is about licensing. The [Forking guidelines](./README.md#forking-guidelines) in the
README cover the rest of what makes a fork clearly distinguishable from Bluesky, which matters
both for your users and for app store review.
Then change your branding, support links, and analytics as described in the [Forking guidelines](./README.md#forking-guidelines). That part is not about licensing — it is what makes a fork clearly distinguishable from Bluesky, which matters both for your users and for app store review.
## Questions
If something in this repository looks like it should be on this list and is not, or if you are
unsure whether an asset is covered, open an issue or email us and we will sort it out. We would
much rather answer the question than have someone guess.
If something in this repository looks like it should be on this list and is not, if a rights holder named here is wrong, or if you are unsure whether an asset is covered, open an issue or email [atmosphere@blueskyweb.xyz](mailto:atmosphere@blueskyweb.xyz).
## History
- **August 2026** — this document added, along with [`NOTICE.md`](./NOTICE.md), per-directory notices, and the required Apache 2.0 and OFL license texts. It documents pre-existing rights; it does not change the [MIT license](./LICENSE) or relicense any file.
- **Before that** — the repository carried a blanket MIT license with no asset carve-out, and the forking guidelines did not mention commissioned artwork, trademarks, or licensed icons.
---
*Last reviewed: August 2026. This document describes the licensing position of assets in this
repository. It is not a grant of rights, and it does not modify the [MIT license](./LICENSE) as
it applies to source code.*
*This document describes the licensing position of assets in this repository. It is not a grant of rights, and it does not modify the [MIT license](./LICENSE) as it applies to source code.*