Is copying other website layout is ILLEGAL?

IDealOnlineMarketing

IDealOnlineMarketing

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As title says, Is copying other website layout is ILLEGAL?

Some Background: I haven't copied the entire source code, I've written it myself. 40% of coding language is different. Whereas they are using some other old framework, I've made mine with latest bootstrap. However, I've managed to keep the things aligned in the way that it will look similar to their's site. Exact same!.

Will it cause legal damage to my site. I have always been so weak in legal things.
 
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If they are a major website ur website is gonna burn. But I think this will happen only if they feel their profits in danger because of u or for example if u rank above them:). Even the layout of website, if it is original not a wp theme, is subject to copyright laws. So a simple email to G will make ur website vanish from serp.
 
I don't think its criminal offense, probably is a civil offense though. Its breach of copy-write (potentially).
As said above, if you do it to a large entity and they find out, you risk getting sued. If nothing else it could be expensive for you.
 
It's definately a breach of copyright, these are the kind of things copyright was designed to protect. Legally you are liable, they could sue you. This is BHW, nobody is judging you here, most of us have done the same, im doing the same as I type this.
 
Happened to a client of mine, competitor changed pictures, few colors and re-wrote the text but on some pages he forgot to replace my client's business name lol... anyway the website was taken down by the owner in a couple of hours after a quick phone call. I've sent the whole story to a local newspaper and got my client some positive advertisement and a lot of powerful backlinks.
 
I'm actually making a website right now based on another website.

-the layout is the same
-all the content is different
-the code has been made from scratch (no copying)
-The colors are similar but not the same

What is the legality of this? (I'm from UK BTW)
 
Yes, you are going to go to the jail and to hell after that.

Good luck!
 
If that site is not registered or patent is not done, then you can go and copy it.
In the end, you'll be more secure.
If it is registered for patent, then change the attributes, colors, markings and framework style little bit.
 
if you get a old domain before the regional i am sure your be fine.

but the truth is your own idea lot better with design , all you need to do, is look at a website then do a story board on paper then re design.
copied websites are useless and lazy makes you become a copycat.
topdown said:
Happened to a client of mine, competitor changed pictures, few colors and re-wrote the text but on some pages he forgot to replace my client's business name lol... anyway the website was taken down by the owner in a couple of hours after a quick phone call. I've sent the whole story to a local newspaper and got my client some positive advertisement and a lot of powerful backlinks.
Click to expand...
 
laur.laurix said:
If they are a major website ur website is gonna burn. But I think this will happen only if they feel their profits in danger because of u or for example if u rank above them:). Even the layout of website, if it is original not a wp theme, is subject to copyright laws. So a simple email to G will make ur website vanish from serp.
Click to expand...

I agree with laur.laurix - in short, don't copy a popular website - it will backfire at you.
 
Honestly it depends on how you ended up with code similar to theirs.

Blackbox reverse engineering is perfectly legal, and even code that is essentially identical won't be considered copyright infringement so long as the writers never saw the original code.

If you copied the code straight from their source, modification of would make it a derivative work. While technically you could be sued, the chances are highly unlikely unless you also copy some innovative/interesting UI elements that are unique to or a signature part of the site; or copy everything including color scheme and only change logos.

Edit: Oh and follow the above advice for not copying popular sites. They tend to have very unique designs they paid designers a lot of money to make.
 
if you change a image from it oragnal it lnow becomes a new image so in thory
if you alter or add somethink to a image it becomes your image.

in theory any image that been altered becomes a new image legaly
 
no it imposable to say that a person will not design somethink to another design .

sp it no ilegal unless done on pupose like a clined website even then your only be asked to change it theme....
 
Since you're a already in doubt, just avoid it. From the replies here, we can see it is a 50-50 thing. Some say it is okay and some say it is not. Find something else and be at ease. You would not want to be worried if anything is going to happen few years down the road.
 
redarrow said:
if you change a image from it oragnal it lnow becomes a new image so in thory
if you alter or add somethink to a image it becomes your image.

in theory any image that been altered becomes a new image legaly
Click to expand...

You really should not give legal advice if you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

According to your "theory" I could download images from shutter stock, use photoshop to erase the watermarks, add a mustache , then reupload for profit and not get in trouble. In theory it is a new image. In reality, it is an edited stolen image which is still THEFT!

Did you get this legal advice by watching south park when cartman drew a dingdong on the redsox logo and claimed it as his own? Because that is not how the real world works.
 
It is illegal if you are copying it no matter how much you try to change it, But it is legal if you create the exact same layout all on your own with out copying it, Coz a lot of websites does the same, Don't believe me try searching themeforest, same layout with bunch of themes, That being said themeforest is a marketplace not exactly a site you are copying from, I thing you should change it or make it all on your own, We don't want you go jail ;)
 
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