[milf]

I'm just curious how others feel about using someone else's site design as their own. I'm not suggesting completely ripping another site's design and claiming it as your own, but if you come across a layout that just works for your content and you find visually appealing, is there anything wrongp with using it? Does this go against every code of web development or is it a reasonable approach? Some people just have an incredible knack for design pages, while others do not.

Thoughts? What makes it wrong/right?

[Sage]

Well, it's just about impossible to not be inspired by another site's design. Now by "using", what exactly do you mean? Do you mean the same basic layout, do you mean using the same layout, the same colors, and the same fonts, or do you mean going in and copying-and-pasting the code and downloading some of the images?

My answer would also vary on the kind of website... if it's a personal site, something set up for a group of buddies or something like that, then there's a bit more leniency. If you're making a site for a business though, then there are definitely more restrictions IMHO.

But again, it all comes down to what you mean by "using".

[milf]

I'm sure everyone will have a different approach to "using" someone else's site design. I certainly don't condone flat out copying someone's source code. Using their site's layout with [maybe] a change in colors and obviously content...I don't particularly see anything wrong with that. I'd say as long as your own personal flare has been added to the mimiced site design, using another site's design shouldn't be an issue.

I'd agree that the sites purpose should play into it all. If every business started ripping off each other's site designs, the internet would gradually become a very boring place. On the other hand, personal sites usually don't generate the high quantity of hits and might, therefore, be more suitable/acceptable.

[schk]

Copying a sites layout and changing colors is no better than ripping the entire site off. As someone who has had multiple designs ripped off and others claiming it as their own, I don't find any form of using someone else's work as your own as being acceptable. The people that do steal other's works tend to be scumbags who act like the work is 100% theirs so I have no sympathy for them. Have you ever seen someone borrow elements off another site and give a reciprocal link telling them where they "borrowed" stuff...no. You will find lack of sympathy for anyone who rips off design elements in the entire design community. If it were otherwise, there would be no need for sites such as www.pirated-sites.com Stealing someone else's work is wrong no matter how you try to justify it, but on the web it's easy to do and typically hard to get the offenders to remove the stolen content.

[madmacgames]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "layout" but there are only do many layouts you can have with websites, and most are used over and over:

common 3 columns layout (2 side menus with main content in middle);
common 2 column layout (column menu to either side and main content on the other);

then most sites have a header and footer that sit on top and below the columns or are integrated somehow...

For example, I don't see how making a 3 column site layout with a header/footer is ripping a site off as (1) that is hardly original and (2) look at different website; chances are alot will follow similar layouts that you can group into categories, one of which will inevitably the 3 column layout, which points back to (1) that is hardly original.

But maybe you aren't talking about layout on this basic a level.

[madmacgames]

PS. Now using someone else's design is not only wrong but is also illegal (ok its not that cut and dry by to avoid getting into copyright law, lets just leave it simple and assume the design you are taking or ripping is itself original).

Being influenced by other designs is ok though; but not to the point that you flat out steal.

[milf]

madmacgames:
I think your definition of a layout in this case is too basic. Yes, by breaking things down into 2-column, 3-column, etc. sites are in that regard very similar. But within these layouts, so many different approaches could be taken. I'm more referring to people basically mimicing the site as in having buttons in the same location or images (although different) in a similar location. Following the layout close enough to the point where one could tell that they are of the same or similar design, with "cosmetic" differences.

[NYCFarmboy]

I have no problem with grabbing HTML code from websites I like.

The truth of the matter is whichever site you grabbed it from most likely grabbed it partially from someone else beforehand.

And if it looks good someone will grab your code and use it on another site in the future.

but..I code by hand using very basic html and don't use the multitude of web generators available with the exception of Photoshop's photo gallery automated web gallery.

[philzilla]

milf. may i suggest you post a link of the site you intend on ripping off, and just say exactly what you plan on stealing?

let's cut to the chase here, come on.

[Millennium]

It depends.

If you're just using a common paradigm, like the classic three columns, then that's one thing.

If, on the other hand, you're also using artwork and color schemes from another site, it is wise to ask permission first. This is even more true if you're also using images.

[milf]

milf. may i suggest you post a link of the site you intend on ripping off, and just say exactly what you plan on stealing?

let's cut to the chase here, come on.

I was waiting for this. Just because I started this post doesn't necessarily mean I had intentions of "ripping off" someone's site. I can obviously tell of which opinion you are in this issue having used "ripping off" and "plan on stealing" in your response. I won't say that I've never used another site's layout before, but I've always changed it up a bit, adding my on colors and images and writing all code myself. I've never made an exact duplication. Fair assumption though, I guess.

If, on the other hand, you're also using artwork and color schemes from another site, it is wise to ask permission first. This is even more true if you're also using images.

I'd agree. Using someone else's artwork and color scheme is taking it a bit too far, in my opinion. Although, it depends on the image. What about those "generic" images/cliparts that are offered to the development world by various websites. Those are used througout the development world. I certainly don't condone taking someone else's logo or other website specific artwork.

I have no problem with grabbing HTML code from websites I like.

The truth of the matter is whichever site you grabbed it from most likely grabbed it partially from someone else beforehand.

And if it looks good someone will grab your code and use it on another site in the future.

but..I code by hand using very basic html and don't use the multitude of web generators available with the exception of Photoshop's photo gallery automated web gallery.

I'm of the same mind, but only to a certain extent. I don't agree with flat out copying someone's HTML code.

[philzilla]

you're asking questions, we're answering them, but you're not answering ours. slightly one-sided, don't you think? i merely asked to see the site you're referring too, so we can judge for ourselves how right or wrong the situation is.

are you charging a client for this website? if so, are you going to share the fee with the person who did the original work and credit them?

[milf]

you're asking questions, we're answering them, but you're not answering ours. slightly one-sided, don't you think? i merely asked to see the site you're referring too, so we can judge for ourselves how right or wrong the situation is.

are you charging a client for this website? if so, are you going to share the fee with the person who did the original work and credit them?

One-sided? What questions have I not provided answers to? You made an assumption by asking me which site I was referring to when I don't have a specific site in mind. This post was just generally speaking? But, to answer your questions, I don't do web development for profit, so no, I won't be charging anyone anything. If I were designing a website for a client, I wouldn't consider using someone else's design. And finally, if I did use someone else's design and was to profit from it, I would certainly credit the original creator.

Anyway, thanks for the response.

[redJag]

If you feel guilty you shouldn't do it. If you don't feel guilty you wouldn't ask. :-p

It is my stubborn opinion that drawing inspiration from ideas or metaphors on someone else's site is just part of life. Stealing an image (whether you modify it afterwards or not) is wrong. Stealing code is wrong. Looking at a layout and writing code to look just like it is wrong.

[milf]

If you feel guilty you shouldn't do it. If you don't feel guilty you wouldn't ask. :-p

That's great! It's true in so many ways. If I were in the situation, I'd feel guilty.

[Truepop]

Ask the owner.