BoltZ Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Ok lets say I am making forum software and My software looks similar to other forum software (note that this person will NOT be stealing the php source code at all.) all of this code is hand coded. is this illegal or unethical. I have been googling and it looks like in this example, vbulletin went after them for using their CODE n not their design layout. am i correct in saying this is legal as long as i dont steal code and hand code it myself and it doesnt look identical and all that stuff? sorry if this is the wrong forum to post in i wasnt really sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dropfaith Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 yea its legal if you hand code a layout based on something you have seen its legel as long as you dont steal the code or images. but if you relly want to feel safe i would put a comment in the code <!-- roughly based on http://www.sitename.com --> <!-- all code and content created by (your name --> most people who think you stole code will see that in the code and be like oh due to the fact that your crediting the source for the design idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoltZ Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 Another part is that im am in no way gifted with photoshop so like if you click the link in my profile to my beta forums you will see the checkmark. i just simply googled "checkmark" and it gave me that. is using that image illegal or should i also put a comment there about how it was used from that site? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamez Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Its like when you go to buy a case of Pepsi, and you see Megapepsi, it is made by two different peeps, but is almost the same thing, but people are going to trust the original Pepsi, than the Megapepsi brand. You could take all your code and write it to a disk, or a RW, so you can keep backing it up, and then people will know you made it on your own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corbin Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Another part is that im am in no way gifted with photoshop so like if you click the link in my profile to my beta forums you will see the checkmark. i just simply googled "checkmark" and it gave me that. is using that image illegal or should i also put a comment there about how it was used from that site? Depending on the site from which you got it, it could be illegal. Copyright infringement. You could take all your code and write it to a disk, or a RW, so you can keep backing it up, and then people will know you made it on your own. That wouldn't convince me if the defendant had a chance to make up fake code. And a desperate person could do that quite quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamez Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 its better than adding commented code.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stooney Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 If you want free legal images just search for example "checkmark public domain" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corbin Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 its better than adding commented code.. I'm guessing you mean in reference to stealing ideas, not actual content, because stealing actual content is still illegal even with crediting the author. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamez Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 its better than adding commented code.. I'm guessing you mean in reference to stealing ideas, not actual content, because stealing actual content is still illegal even with crediting the author. No I am talking about this suggestion: but if you relly want to feel safe i would put a comment in the code <!-- roughly based on http://www.sitename.com --> <!-- all code and content created by (your name --> most people who think you stole code will see that in the code and be like oh due to the fact that your crediting the source for the design idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dropfaith Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 how is that better? just wondering becuase i could steal code and back it up 10,000 times its still stolen code thats not credited at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamez Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 I could comment ever page of the code, and it still makes no difference, there really is no reasonable solutions, just trust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel0 Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Why is it people think it's a good idea to ask random people on the internet for legal advice instead of a professional? Also, why is it that when people do this they do not tell where they are from? Laws are different in different countries... The law is complex and what one might think would be logical is not necessarily how it is in the real world. If you're in doubt, ask a lawyer. Otherwise you might end up in some serious trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamez Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Why is it people think it's a good idea to ask random people on the internet for legal advice instead of a professional? Also, why is it that when people do this they do not tell where they are from? Laws are different in different countries... The law is complex and what one might think would be logical is not necessarily how it is in the real world. If you're in doubt, ask a lawyer. Otherwise you might end up in some serious trouble. very true.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerRobot Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Why is it people think it's a good idea to ask random people on the internet for legal advice instead of a professional? Also, why is it that when people do this they do not tell where they are from? Laws are different in different countries... The law is complex and what one might think would be logical is not necessarily how it is in the real world. If you're in doubt, ask a lawyer. Otherwise you might end up in some serious trouble. What one might think is logical is never how it is in the real world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoltZ Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 Ok well I live in maryland. I will not be stealing content, just partial design. buttons (with your suggestion) i shall just google those keywords. for legal safety I shall comment code that its roughly based off of (site) and that for this forum some features were inspired by (forum) . But i shall be handcoding all of this so i think i shall be fine. So just a conclusion qustion, it is not illegal to base a design off a different site? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel0 Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 So just a conclusion qustion, it is not illegal to base a design off a different site? That's difficult to say precisely. I guess it depends on how much it looks like the other one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mchl Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 I guess it depends on how good lawyers both sides can afford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerRobot Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 To be honest, most forum software looks fairly similar. Who's to say who's copied who? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoltZ Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 It is sort of similar to mybb's installation guide, however the steps are different, i use different images, and i have a background image around the containing div for everything, and i have rouded borders, and a different banner. to check it out click the link in my profile and (i guess if you are devoted) download mybb and go to the installationwizard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamez Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 I did click on the link, I found this: http://www.devwebsites.com/forums/install/index.php?$_SESSION[%27current_step%27] that seems insecure. Also, logo needs work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoltZ Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 yea it kinda does. im working on the site now, thats y u got that error but if you do index.php?step=2 then its the next step in ninstallation. im only nearing the design of step 3 so bear with me man. i already posted a section about how to post variables via url.. incidentilly are u the kinda guy who works on images? ^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamez Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 I use to do some graphic work, but decided I am much better with coding, and my coding still has tons of room for improvements. Most of my graphics came from tutorials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoltZ Posted October 30, 2008 Author Share Posted October 30, 2008 NEone feel like "touchin up" my image? i'm not sure whats wrong with it cuz im no image expert, but 5-10 minutes spent on my image would be greatly appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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