: Can CSS be copyrighted? I know CSS on a website is protected under the website's copyright since it is considered part of the overall design. I also know that images used in CSS are copyrightable.

@Smith883

Here is a legal explanation.

Basically, other than the concept of "Trade Dress" CSS can not be copyrighted. Literary copy-write laws do not apply to CSS or JavaScript.

I looked at a lot of discussions about this, and this link contained the most researched, reasonable sounding, and thought out I could find.

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@Cofer257

I say you cannot copyright a chunk of code


All code (and this includes CSS) is copyrighted as it's a creative work, and all creative works are automatically copyright.

Even these words I'm typing now are copyright, but by using this site I'm agreeing to these terms by which I give up some of my rights to them. However, they are still my words.

If you copy someone else's code you are breaking copyright. However, if you write your own you're not - though by copying the "look and feel" you might encounter problems if you're intent was to mimic and "pass off" (but I'm not a lawyer).

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@Si4351233

As with all legal questions, ask a lawyer.

However, as far as I understand the issue (which may not be very far) any creative work is subject to copyright. This would include such items as CSS styles sheets if your are copying them verbatim (even if modifying them somewhat or replacing parts of them).

CSS is in this aspect no different than source code for example.

The effect of that CSS is however not subject to copyright, so if you reproduce the same effect without relying on the actual code then you should be fine.

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