Unfortunately, that is not true. Ideas can be patented, not copyrighted.

If you're trying to build the same style from scratch, then it is a copyright violation.

It doesn't matter how you arrive at the final result. As long as your final result looks identical or is above all a derivative work of the original, you are violating copyright law.

Well, it looks good to me Injektilo. Whenever you get it tweaked to meet the requirements of vb.org, I hope you release it. A site I admin loves the smooth blue style and would be happy to get even a derivative of it.

thats what i intend to do :)

just switch the direction of the arrows in the status icons for the threads (it still shows its inspiration but its different

Corriewf this could worth to mention on your next vb Cast ... When is a style or some elements of a website can be considered as illegal due to copyrights :) :p

This issue is pretty much black-and-white, from a legal perspective.

In your case, the simple existence of this thread serves as more than ample evidence that whatever product of your work will legally be considered a derivative work. You have obviously been taking bits and pieces of the original and changing and/or remaking them. Reproduction of original copyrighted material in whole or in part is illegal unless explicitly authorized by the copyright holder (which is vBulletin.org in this case).

I'm not sure about any PM messages you've exchanged, but I don't see any explicit authorization from the copyright holder in this thread.

will contact vb.org then to ask about this....

but i didnt understand what do u mean about the pm msgs?

Ewww! I try to stay away from legal issues like this... But I would love to discuss it with The Internet lawyer a.k.a Erwin...... :D


The problem in the internet world is that laws applicable here are not applicable there.... I could tell you that you are wrong as hell right now, but in your country, you could be ok... Liability/copyright is a pita...


Thats why im shooting for Family and Estate. ;)

actually laws are pretty much the same here.. but anyway :) i'll here it straight from vb cuz i've send a pm to one of the admins

I do not know where here is..... Wasn't the style in question a result of some sort of contest.... I can't remember...


Goodluck man. I hope they give you the green. :D