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If you use designer home decor items for 'inspiration', are you breaking copyright laws?

Asked by augustlan (47745points) May 27th, 2011

In decorating magazines and online stores or design blogs, I often see high-end items that I know I can make for much cheaper than the originals. Some of them wouldn’t be exact copies, like this chandelier, as it’s easy enough to change some details. But others, like these vases would be pretty much identical.

I assume if I made them for my own use, that would probably be ok, but what if I made them to sell on etsy or something? Would changing a few details be enough to make it legal? Would it still be unethical? Would it matter if I planned to use reclaimed/recycled/already owned items as a base?

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