Yesterday I read about Guns N’ Roses (yes, I’m a huge fan ) being sued for copyright infringement and got to thinking: in a world where everybody copywrites their own words, phrases on Twitter, people are going crazy when it comes to it. Some are afraid of it, some are revolted and even associate it with censorship. But what does constitute a valid copyright infringement case? Is it theft or is it inspiration? Moreover, what’s the difference between a creator and an author?

We’ll start with a light cartoon that explains what does NOT constitute copyright infringement.

I’m not going to line up every definition on copyright infringement on the web. If you’re here and you’re reading this article, I assume you already know what it means. And if you don’t, well, Google it.

One thing’s for sure: you can’t be against copyright! While some things fall into a gray area, such as similar design, when it comes to copyright there’s only black or white. You’re either the creator or you’re not. This is what respect for other people’s ideas and work means. You can’t just find a photo or a Flash component you like on a website and make it yours.  If it’s not yours, don’t claim it.

You can, on the other hand, use it for inspiration, an create something else. And I’m not talking about changing colors or a pause button. I know it’s going to sound cheesy, but be original! It’s the only way you’re going to attract customers and gain their trust. If you sell a wolf ticket, maybe you’ll get some sales, but once you’re figured out, be sure you’re going to lose it all.

Few days ago, we got a complaint (uuuu, scary ) about an author from FC who was accused for copyright infringement. Finally, after massive investigations, we managed to solve the missunderstanding, but there’s always a question popping up: who’s the creator and who’s the author? Who had the brilliant idea first and who got inspired?

Fortunately, we have some pretty amazing developers on our website and a community that has learned to respect eachother not only as creators, but also as human beings. We also have intruders that don’t respect the rules, but with the help of all of you guys, we can definitely say we’re working in a clean, copyright infringement-free community. So, thanks!

By the way, do check out our copyright policy for more information and if you have questions or concerns, either leave a comment or contact our support team.