I am starting a online service, and it may be neat if I could use a design similar to the one on Google.com (the classic version). I see that Google has a copyright notice, but does this cover the design? If I were to change the logo, and all the links - it would still be similar to the original Google design. Am I breaking copyright laws by doing this? Thanks.
I'm not a lawyer, but I doubt Google can copyright a white background with a logo and search box in the middle of it, but hey, anybody can sue you for anything.
Yes, that was my reasoning, but I just want to be sure that there will be no legal issues. I am not living in the US, so I presume they cannot sue me as easily as if I were living in the US.
Well you know that microsoft owns the patent for double click on your mouse.. Maybe google has the copyright.. maybe not. They should be some really lame ass ppl if they want to sue you for something like that. Make the the background little grayer than white lol. Then they cant sue you.. You have gray bg.
There is no BORROWING when it comes to these things, you either steal it or you don't. It sounds like you are stealing here but as long as you stay low, I think you should be fine
You can borrow as much as you want. As long as you don't grow very big, you won't be a threat to Google and they won't pursue you in court.
It's hard to say in any given case whether there is a copyright. A copyright requires that there be an element of creativity that is not insubstantial. If I write a 5 line poem which is my original work, I own the copyright. If I write "The bear is brown," there is not sufficient creativity to give me a copyright on that sentence. Likewise, the arrangement of particular design elements on a page can certainly create a copyright in a web page. Whether a very simple design like the Google home page rises to that level is questionable.
Lol nobody will sue you for borrowing the google's theme (its not even a theme , just a white background with the logo and the search bar) .. there is no specific css on google.
Hi mate, There are many sites that are using a sort google page Almost the same, I would just make it bit different Like: -Pagebanner in top -Under it a serach bar Than some info and maybe news about internet (1 line) would be nice I think
My concern is not about getting sued. My main concern is them asking me to remove it, and me doing a bunch of work for nothing. I will most likely be putting Adsense ads on the page, do you reckon they'd accept that? Thanks for the help.
Haha you made me laugh, if you're not concerned of getting sued, then why would you listen to them if they ask you to remove it? And if you're going for it, you can try putting their ads, either it will cause a minor discussion among the legal department or they will just get over it.
it should be fine once you see this you will almost be sure its ok to http://www.alouwebdesign.ca/google/index.php its a google clone but with the same logo and everything then to rip of adsense the sponsered links are adsense code to do with whats on the page !
Hello Pkallberg, I suggest that you just use Google's design as an idea. Embed your own idea's and thoughts, and you will be fine. Don't copy it, just have it as an idea. There are a lot of similar designs all over the web.
Google's design is copyrighted and their notice at the bottom does include their design. Though, the simple nature of their design and basic idea can very easily be replicated without any problems. Just don't use anything from their site expect for the idea and you should be in the clear.