Hi I am a amatuer web designer working in web design company and I was wondering if you surf the web , you visit

sites and like their design and set up are you allow to built a site of your own copying the other web sites design. I

don't mean copying exactly pixel for pixel / code for code but very close different colors and minor changes to design.. is

this legal or does it break some standard of web designs?

It breaks the law under the creative commons attribute (sp?) because the design was created for and by them, there are thousands of free template sites though and it is very easy to make your own.

In some instances the owner allows the use of the codes and the design only upon written consent and permission. So, if you want to be on the safe side, try writing the webmaster or webdesigner regarding the use of a particular design. It wouldn't hurt to ask anyway.

Thanks for the information. I'd be curious to know how often someone starts by copying an existing page, but then changes it enough to avoid legal problems.

I think that would be an alternative if the results were sufficiently different from the original site.

I wouldn't recommend doing this at all.

You'll have a copycat site if anything.

It's not exactly a copy cat if you do know how to make some tweaks. Colors can easily be changed within the html codes. But if you prefer an all original look, you can code an entire new design from scratch. It can be done but it takes a lot of time.

I say never do it. Building a business and reputation whose foundation is the work of someone else just doesn't seem like a good idea. It's going to catch up with you sooner or later.

Our own web site (SEO Services & Professional Web Design | Pilot Fish of Akron, Ohio) was copied by a company in another industry that intended to use some of the design elements to build their site. They duplicated about 5 pages on their own server, and had an in-house person working on deconstructing the site. They had a home page up with our design when we discovered it.

We do not take copyright infringement lightly and immediately contacted the company. Ultimately they removed all the pages from their server, but it was a hassle to get these "duplicate" pages removed from Google, and it cost us our search engine ranking in the meantime. We are very vigilant now in protecting our designs.

The worst thing you could do would be to find yourself in a similar situation and have to explain to your client why "their" web site design can't be used.

We had the same happen to us - they had even copied our logo - they are based in spain.

Angie - the rel="nofollow" tag means that links on the forum will not be followed btw..

I agree to make your own design. Besides you become unique aside from who you may have gotten the idea from.

I think it's good to surf and see what's up with others design and gain ideas from that. You can use it as an idea generator. But never copy it.

yes....sometimes people do like to copy and bypassing the creative process and completing the site within a week....

but avoid it.... be as creative as possible.

if u develop your creative skills then u are sure to much more that simple websites.

sumeet shroff
http://www.prateekshawebdesign.com