11 ms·

Apple offers 2,400 icons for free

31 points by scheja 6y ago

amelius 6y ago
Can we use them in FOSS projects that don't necessarily run on Apple hardware?
- reaperducer 6y ago
  When I asked this a couple of weeks ago, the answer was "no." Maybe that's changed, and that's why it's on HN? The linked page doesn't list a license.
  - mikeyouse 6y ago
    Closest I can find is here: > All SF Symbols shall be considered to be system-provided images as defined in the Xcode and Apple SDKs license agreements and are subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. You may not use SF Symbols — or glyphs that are substantially or confusingly similar — in your app icons, logos, or any other trademark-related use. Apple reserves the right to review and, in its sole discretion, require modification or discontinuance of use of any Symbol used in violation of the foregoing restrictions, and you agree to promptly comply with any such request. https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/sf-symbols/overview/ https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guideline...
- duskwuff 6y ago
  No. From the license: > Your use of Symbols obtained from Apple’s SF Font is limited to creating mock-ups of user interfaces for software products running on Apple’s iOS, iPadOS, macOS and tvOS operating systems and your use of Symbols obtained from Apple’s SF Compact Font is limited to creating mock-ups of user interfaces for software products running on Apple’s iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS operating systems. Such Apple operating systems are referred to as the “Apple Platforms”. Your use of individual Symbols shall also be subject to any specific use restrictions with respect thereto as set forth in the Apple Software or Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines. (SF Symbol is embedded in current versions of macOS/iOS, so you don't need a special license to use it in applications which run on those platforms.)
- Gaelan 6y ago
  Still no, EULA in the installer: > IMPORTANT NOTE: THE APPLE SOFTWARE IS TO BE USED SOLELY FOR CREATING USER INTERFACES TO BE USED IN SOFTWARE PRODUCTS RUNNING ON APPLE’S iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS OR watchOS OPERATING SYSTEMS, AS APPLICABLE, AND IS SUBJECT TO THE SPECIFIC USE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH HEREIN.
- Nextgrid 6y ago
  The installer's license agreement (yes the DMG contains an actual installer instead of just an "app") says the license for the icons is granted for use on Apple platforms. It's quite long and I haven't read it too much so there might be exceptions down the line but it's unlikely.
CharlesW 6y ago
What rights do developers have to use these on anything other than Apple products? https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/sf-symbols/overview/ https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guideline... > All SF Symbols shall be considered to be system-provided images as defined in the Xcode and Apple SDKs license agreements and are subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. You may not use SF Symbols — or glyphs that are substantially or confusingly similar — in your app icons, logos, or any other trademark-related use. Apple reserves the right to review and, in its sole discretion, require modification or discontinuance of use of any Symbol used in violation of the foregoing restrictions, and you agree to promptly comply with any such request.
- CharlesW 6y ago
  After a bit more research I'm going to say "none", since developers can't use the San Francisco font outside of iOS apps for anything but prototyping.
sorenjan 6y ago
Not exactly free. IMPORTANT All SF Symbols shall be considered to be system-provided images as defined in the Xcode and Apple SDKs license agreements and are subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. You may not use SF Symbols — or glyphs that are substantially or confusingly similar — in your app icons, logos, or any other trademark-related use. Apple reserves the right to review and, in its sole discretion, require modification or discontinuance of use of any Symbol used in violation of the foregoing restrictions, and you agree to promptly comply with any such request. Some symbols can’t be exported as templates for customization and can be used only to reference Apple technologies as documented below. https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/sf-symbols/overview/#symbols-for-use-as-is https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guideline... https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/sf-symbols/overview/ https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guideline...
- srhngpr 6y ago
  Maybe the title of this post should reflect that it's not exactly free.
- nobleach 6y ago
  >or glyphs that are substantially or confusingly similar In the image on the linked page, they use glyphs that are so common, some might consider them "standard". It's reprehensible that Apply might try and consider the "undo arrow" their own intellectual property. As a matter of fact, I don't see a single icon in that screenshot that I'd consider belonging to Apple. Those are all pretty much Font Awesome/IcoMoon staples.
  - tptacek 6y ago
    You can probably assume they do not in fact consider "the undo arrow" to be Apple intellectual property.
  - oneplane 6y ago
    Keep in mind that the legalese is intended for legal people to word-fight each other for lots of money. It generally turns this type of text in to vague yet usable terminology so you can defend or attack at will.
richardwhiuk 6y ago
Can we rename this? The title isn't at all accurate. This is just a system font on iOS and Mac OS?
mmastrac 6y ago
I'd suggest changing the title from "for free" to "for iOS apps".
- oneplane 6y ago
  While that would be partially correct, 'for free' usually depends on some context. One could argue that sunlight is 'for free' but only in the context of a human understanding the concept of free vs. non-free, and you'd need to be living and thinking to be able to understand that, and living takes an effort, so nothing would really be 'free' ;-) On the other hand, a more correct title could be: free for development for the Apple Platforms.
david_allison 6y ago
> All SF Symbols shall be considered to be system-provided images as defined in the Xcode and Apple SDKs license agreements and are subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. https://developer.apple.com/sf-symbols/ https://developer.apple.com/sf-symbols/ > The system-provided images and symbols owned by Apple and documented as such in Apple's Human Interface Guidelines for iOS, watchOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and/or macOS (“System-Provided Images”) are licensed to You solely for the purpose of developing Applications for Apple-branded products that run on the system for which the image was provided. You agree that you shall not use or incorporate the System-Provided Images or any substantially or confusingly similar images into app icons, logos or make any other trademark use of the System-Provided Images. Your use of the System-Provided Images shall also be subject to any specific use restrictions with respect thereto as set forth in the Apple Software or Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines. Apple reserves the right to review and, in its sole discretion, require modification or discontinuance of use of any System-Provided images used in violation of the foregoing restrictions, and you agree to promptly comply with any such request. Upon termination of this Agreement, You may continue to distribute the System-Provided Images as used within Applications You developed using the Apple Software. https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/xcode.pdf https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/xcode.pdf
oneplane 6y ago
Nice. It's free in the sense that for your Apple-apps on Apple-platforms you no longer need a commercial icon set with a license etc. On top of that, it's known to work well, integrates with the UX, and because there is a good chance other applications in the same ecosystem use similar icons it'll be easier for the users to recognise them.

31 points by scheja 6y ago

amelius 6y ago

Can we use them in FOSS projects that don't necessarily run on Apple hardware?

reaperducer 6y ago
When I asked this a couple of weeks ago, the answer was "no." Maybe that's changed, and that's why it's on HN? The linked page doesn't list a license.
- mikeyouse 6y ago
  Closest I can find is here: > All SF Symbols shall be considered to be system-provided images as defined in the Xcode and Apple SDKs license agreements and are subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. You may not use SF Symbols — or glyphs that are substantially or confusingly similar — in your app icons, logos, or any other trademark-related use. Apple reserves the right to review and, in its sole discretion, require modification or discontinuance of use of any Symbol used in violation of the foregoing restrictions, and you agree to promptly comply with any such request. https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/sf-symbols/overview/ https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guideline...
duskwuff 6y ago
No. From the license: > Your use of Symbols obtained from Apple’s SF Font is limited to creating mock-ups of user interfaces for software products running on Apple’s iOS, iPadOS, macOS and tvOS operating systems and your use of Symbols obtained from Apple’s SF Compact Font is limited to creating mock-ups of user interfaces for software products running on Apple’s iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS operating systems. Such Apple operating systems are referred to as the “Apple Platforms”. Your use of individual Symbols shall also be subject to any specific use restrictions with respect thereto as set forth in the Apple Software or Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines. (SF Symbol is embedded in current versions of macOS/iOS, so you don't need a special license to use it in applications which run on those platforms.)
Gaelan 6y ago
Still no, EULA in the installer: > IMPORTANT NOTE: THE APPLE SOFTWARE IS TO BE USED SOLELY FOR CREATING USER INTERFACES TO BE USED IN SOFTWARE PRODUCTS RUNNING ON APPLE’S iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS OR watchOS OPERATING SYSTEMS, AS APPLICABLE, AND IS SUBJECT TO THE SPECIFIC USE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH HEREIN.
Nextgrid 6y ago
The installer's license agreement (yes the DMG contains an actual installer instead of just an "app") says the license for the icons is granted for use on Apple platforms. It's quite long and I haven't read it too much so there might be exceptions down the line but it's unlikely.

CharlesW 6y ago

What rights do developers have to use these on anything other than Apple products? https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/sf-symbols/overview/ https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guideline... > All SF Symbols shall be considered to be system-provided images as defined in the Xcode and Apple SDKs license agreements and are subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. You may not use SF Symbols — or glyphs that are substantially or confusingly similar — in your app icons, logos, or any other trademark-related use. Apple reserves the right to review and, in its sole discretion, require modification or discontinuance of use of any Symbol used in violation of the foregoing restrictions, and you agree to promptly comply with any such request.

CharlesW 6y ago
After a bit more research I'm going to say "none", since developers can't use the San Francisco font outside of iOS apps for anything but prototyping.

sorenjan 6y ago

Not exactly free. IMPORTANT All SF Symbols shall be considered to be system-provided images as defined in the Xcode and Apple SDKs license agreements and are subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. You may not use SF Symbols — or glyphs that are substantially or confusingly similar — in your app icons, logos, or any other trademark-related use. Apple reserves the right to review and, in its sole discretion, require modification or discontinuance of use of any Symbol used in violation of the foregoing restrictions, and you agree to promptly comply with any such request. Some symbols can’t be exported as templates for customization and can be used only to reference Apple technologies as documented below. https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/sf-symbols/overview/#symbols-for-use-as-is https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guideline... https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/sf-symbols/overview/ https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guideline...

srhngpr 6y ago
Maybe the title of this post should reflect that it's not exactly free.
nobleach 6y ago
>or glyphs that are substantially or confusingly similar In the image on the linked page, they use glyphs that are so common, some might consider them "standard". It's reprehensible that Apply might try and consider the "undo arrow" their own intellectual property. As a matter of fact, I don't see a single icon in that screenshot that I'd consider belonging to Apple. Those are all pretty much Font Awesome/IcoMoon staples.
- tptacek 6y ago
  You can probably assume they do not in fact consider "the undo arrow" to be Apple intellectual property.
- oneplane 6y ago
  Keep in mind that the legalese is intended for legal people to word-fight each other for lots of money. It generally turns this type of text in to vague yet usable terminology so you can defend or attack at will.

richardwhiuk 6y ago

Can we rename this? The title isn't at all accurate. This is just a system font on iOS and Mac OS?

mmastrac 6y ago

I'd suggest changing the title from "for free" to "for iOS apps".

oneplane 6y ago
While that would be partially correct, 'for free' usually depends on some context. One could argue that sunlight is 'for free' but only in the context of a human understanding the concept of free vs. non-free, and you'd need to be living and thinking to be able to understand that, and living takes an effort, so nothing would really be 'free' ;-) On the other hand, a more correct title could be: free for development for the Apple Platforms.

david_allison 6y ago

> All SF Symbols shall be considered to be system-provided images as defined in the Xcode and Apple SDKs license agreements and are subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. https://developer.apple.com/sf-symbols/ https://developer.apple.com/sf-symbols/ > The system-provided images and symbols owned by Apple and documented as such in Apple's Human Interface Guidelines for iOS, watchOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and/or macOS (“System-Provided Images”) are licensed to You solely for the purpose of developing Applications for Apple-branded products that run on the system for which the image was provided. You agree that you shall not use or incorporate the System-Provided Images or any substantially or confusingly similar images into app icons, logos or make any other trademark use of the System-Provided Images. Your use of the System-Provided Images shall also be subject to any specific use restrictions with respect thereto as set forth in the Apple Software or Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines. Apple reserves the right to review and, in its sole discretion, require modification or discontinuance of use of any System-Provided images used in violation of the foregoing restrictions, and you agree to promptly comply with any such request. Upon termination of this Agreement, You may continue to distribute the System-Provided Images as used within Applications You developed using the Apple Software. https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/xcode.pdf https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/xcode.pdf

oneplane 6y ago

Nice. It's free in the sense that for your Apple-apps on Apple-platforms you no longer need a commercial icon set with a license etc. On top of that, it's known to work well, integrates with the UX, and because there is a good chance other applications in the same ecosystem use similar icons it'll be easier for the users to recognise them.