© and web design

Acceptable Most Web designers crib some of their source code, either from other sites or their previous work. These are usually individual elements: o CSS element o A particular Javascript o Layout o Color scheme Elements are recombined in a new and unique way.

Unacceptable Copy an entire CSS stylesheet Copy an entire layout …and change just a few elements: o Font style o Color o Images

© HTML code, much like computer software, is considered an original work of authorship. Though you can’t copyright the general look of the site, you can protect the code that created that work.

Avoid © Problems Create as much of your website yourself as possible. Copy only things that you could reproduce but wanted to save time on. Customize the code: don’t use it “straight.” The more it becomes clear where your code came from, the more likely the copyright holder may become upset. If in doubt, ASK PERMISSION.