I doubt Apple would have an issue with you pulling in a resource from the current runtime and using it during the execution of your application, and there is precedent for them to not be overly concerned by smaller players using their icons directly in their applications, although it's better to be safe to contact Apple Legal about that avenue.
Apple has provided a number of template images available that you don't have to know where they exist, unlike with the scenario you mention, the file for which may change its location in, say, 10.6.4, causing your application to, at best, have a big empty hole. I've requested through Apple's bugreporter site that they provide a means to get reusable strings in other areas of the OS, and if you want that ability for a particular icon, you should request that, too. As for clock icons, there are plenty of clip-art/stock photo sites and packages where you could get something comparable without any legal issues. On 04/15/2010 2:45 PM, "Kirill" <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi there. > Is it legal to use some Mac OS X icons in 3rd party application? > For example Finder displays great "clock" icon for "Recent files" (see Finder > Sidebar->Search For->Today). > My application has Finder/ITunes-like interface and it have Recent Folders > item in Sidebar too. So, is it legal to load and display this apple clock icon > in my application? > If for example my app will dynamically find and load it from corresponding > smart folder > (/System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/Resources/CannedSearches/Tod > ay). > > Best regards, > Kirill. >
