: Is recreating other artist's assets a copyright infringement? I have been asked to create some assets for a graphic design app, based on some reference similar assets from the internet. Note

@Murray976

Disclaimer: Ask a lawyer, we are designers.

As mentioned in the comments, if you just recreate the outlines or shapes, and the result looks exactly or very similar to the original piece, you would be infringing copyright because of substantial similarity.


To win a claim of copyright infringement in civil or criminal court [US], a
plaintiff must show he or she owns a valid copyright, the defendant
actually copied the work, and the level of copying amounts to
misappropriation. Under the doctrine of substantial similarity,
a work can be found to infringe copyright even if the wording of text
has been changed or visual or audible elements are altered.


Explain to your client what he/she is asking is illegal (and very unethical, by itself and because you are a designer as well). Check this question, you'll find some good ways to deal with this situation:


How to handle client requests to violate copyrights?

Vote Up Vote Down

@Alves566

Ideas cannot be copyright. You can can be inspired by the idea but make it work for your client. I personally wouldn't copy it but try to include a design aspect from the app that already exists into the icons like color or patterns for example.

Vote Up Vote Down