Many Americans based their ethical standards off of their religious beliefs, and therefore the Ten Commandments. Perhaps one of the biggest commandments is “thou shall not steal.” Children especially are taught that stealing is right up there with murder; however, in the design community, adults are breaking this commandment daily. Designers are not physically robbing each other; instead, they are pilfering intellectual property for their own convenience or gain. While what they are doing may not seem like a common perception of stealing, numerous guides, laws, and charters have been developed arguing for and against this point. Plagiarism, appropriation, intellectual property, and copyright infringement are the main topics involved in this issue of theft, although they are very ambiguous, with definitions often overlapping. As a result, web and graphic designers are struggling to make the hefty decision as to whether what they are doing is legal or illegal, ethical or unethical.
As digital design is electronically based, it is even easier to copy the hyperlinks or steal code. Some web designers work hard on developing tedious code, while someone could come and easily steal it if they know how. “Technological advances allow a relatively unskilled web designer to combine code from one website and images from others and end up with something that does not scream “borrowed elements recombined” like a collage of magazine clippings. Digital collage techniques allow the combination of elements in a seamless fashion also removes the natural disclaimer of cut edges.” (gunnar swanson plagiarism article) Without the disclaimer, one must ask, is it plagiarism or infringement if no one but the designer knows?
With all that being said, I am in favor of utilizing every and any resource I can get my hands on, whether it be code, images, software, or music. I enjoy appropriation art because it tends to lend something more to the original images, whether it be a humorous satire, or a profound statement. I think Shep Fairey is a borderline genious for all that he is able to get away with-some of the prints he designs for his Obey clothing line are direct ripoffs of other artists, with no artistic treatment applied. Overall, I just think that it is vital for us as designers to understand copyright laws, but in the sense that we know the workaround and severity. As Albert Einstein once said, "creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
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