HN Explorer

Ask HN: Is this design copyright infringement?

2 points by iaskwhy ↗ HN
I'm not a designer by any means but I try my best to make my apps look good. While looking for inspiration I found some good images on stock images sites.

Since I'm really new to all this design thing, I started by transforming a comp, anchor point by anchor point, into a vector image. Then I started changing it to my needs.

Is this copyright infringement?

Links: - Original file: http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-55808422/stock-vector-illustration-of-a-cartoon-cute-character-for-use-in-presentations-etc.html - My comp to vector transformation: http://i37.tinypic.com/2rdxo34.png - My final design: http://i36.tinypic.com/11tlmhh.png

5 comments

[ 4.0 ms ] story [ 31.1 ms ] thread
[dead] ryanve
I would say no, it's not copyright infringement because stock images are sold as license free, meaning you can do what you want with it once you have it. I think you're fine.
kls
I do not think the final one is. it is significantly different. My only question would be the background circle. We all use other stuff for inspiration, doing so is not infringement. The part you are in a gray area on, is using the original to trace a template. Granted you modified the character but did you modify the background? As usual, I am not legal council so take my ramblings with a grain of salt.
iaskwhy
I did a small modification to the background (rotated it a little and it's form is not 100% identical although very very similar).

I really wanted to understand this better. Let's say I start from scratch and the result is the same as that final result I showed, does it change anything?

I understand this is a gray area but this should be more clearer...