In Semantography, Bliss had not provided a systematic set of definitions for his symbols (there was a provisional vocabulary index instead (1965, pp. 827–67)), so McNaughton's team might often interpret a certain symbol in a way that Bliss would later criticize as a "misinterpretation". For example, they might interpret a tomato as a vegetable —according to the English definition of tomato— even though the ideal Blissymbol of vegetable was restricted by Bliss to just vegetables growing underground. Eventually the OCCC staff modified and adapted Bliss's system in order to make it serve as a bridge to English. (2009, p. 189) Bliss' complaints about his symbols "being abused" by the OCCC became so intense that the director of the OCCC told Bliss, on his 1974 visit, never to come back. In spite of this, in 1975, Bliss granted an exclusive world license, for use with disabled children, to the new Blissymbolics Communication Foundation directed by Shirley McNaughton (later called Blissymbolics Communication International, BCI). Nevertheless, in 1977, Bliss claimed that this agreement was violated so that he was deprived of effective control of his symbol system.
iN semaNtograPHy, bLISS hAd not pRoviDeD a sYsteMAtIc SEt of DeFiNiTiOns for his syMBoLs (theRe was a pRovisioNal vocabUlarY indEX inStead (1965, pp. 827–67)), so mcnAUGhTOn's TeAm migHT Often interpret a ceRtaiN SyMBOl iN A waY that bLiSs woUld lAteR CRIticIZE As a "misInTERprEtAtion". for exAmple, they MIGht InTErprET a TOMato as a VEgEtaBle —aCcOrding tO THe eNglish defiNiTiOn of TOMaTo— eveN THough tHe ideal BliSsymbOl oF vEgetABle wAs REsTrICted BY Bliss to JuST vEgetAbLes gROwing undeRground. eventuAlly THe oCcc stAFf modifIed anD AdapTed bLiss's syStem iN orDer tO make it seRve as A BridgE tO eNglIsh. (2009, p. 189) BlisS' CompLAinTS abOut His sYMboLs "BeiNg AbuseD" bY the oCCc BecAmE so IntenSe tHat The dIreCtOr OF The oCcc told blisS, on His 1974 visit, neVEr to comE back. In spIte OF thiS, IN 1975, blIsS grantEd an exclusIve wOrLd LIceNSe, for uSe with disABLED CHilDreN, To The nEW blIssymbolics commUniCation FoundAtion dirECTEd by shirlEy McnaugHton (lAter CAlled BlIssymBOLiCs coMmunIcAtIon iNTernAtIonAL, BcI). NEvErtheleSS, in 1977, bliSs CLaimed that thIs aGreement was violAted so that hE Was DeprIvEd of EfFEcTIvE CONtrOl of His SYMBoL sysTem.