So lets say someone decides to replicate a build that someone else has made. For example, if someone who is relatively new to building wants to practice making the same sofa that I’m selling in my store?

We well all have to learn somewhere, right? Looking at other people put things together is often a good way of learning how to build and “prim-torture” things to the way you want them to look.

But consider how the original designer might feel if they came across it? Well that sort of happened recently when Charlotte Bartlett dropped in on a sim and saw someone had copied one of her early prefabs that she makes.

In this particular case, I think a copybot tool was probably used, as the textures matched hers too.. so that’s a big “no-no” in itself. But the person in question isn’t selling the design (as far as I know). The question remains though, that is this ethical?

Charlotte’s and indeed my own designs too are all original and not copies taken from the real world, which makes them our own intellectual property. In the real world, an architect can’t copy another architect’s design without finding themselves in hot water over it. Surely the same ethics should apply in Second Life?

But then, how would people learn if they can’t practice using examples that aren’t already in SL? Prims can be difficult to manipulate to make them do what you want, after all. And in some cases, people just don’t believe in paying so much for an item, and will just make it themselves.. maybe that’s just bruising the designer’s ego?

This is a huge gray area for me, as there are two sides of the argument. Personally, I don’t think people should make direct copies of someone else’s content – adapt it. And no – that doesn’t mean just using a different wood texture.. change the shape, the materials, and manipulate it to make it your own. There’s nothing wrong with taking inspiration from someone else, and if you credit them, they’ll be flattered. On the other hand, designers should encourage creativity in SL – the more creators there are, the better the Second Life experience is for all of us.

I always help people to design and create whenever I can – be it through classes, tips and tricks that I offer on my Flickr stream, or even by giving financial donations to people who need tools but can’t afford them. As a designer who has had a lot of help from a lot of people in SL, I feel it’s my duty to give back to the community, and I hope that that would generate a respect for my work so people would feel the need to support me back, rather than to breach my Intellectual Property rights.

Is it ethical to copy someone elses design with a non-profit intent? No, it’s not ethical as the design came from the designer’s imagination. Is it ethical to take influence from another design and make your own work from their concepts? Yes, that is ethical.. the moreso if you credit them as an inspiration.

The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources ~ Albert Einstein.