AvengeX Webmaster Development - Free PHP, MySQL, CSS, XHTML, Photoshop Tutorials

I personally draw the line at copying exact colours schemes, images or code.

I think it is fine to base a design of yours on another site, and have their site open during your development. No code must be copied whatsoever, and instead of simply copying, improve it so that in the end you actually have something that looks completely different, and you realise it was your own creativity that did that.

i think pride stops me from having anything but my own sketches and mockups open and around when drawing a final template. also i find that if i spend too much time looking at one thing, i become engrossed in the ideas surrounding it and find it hard to open up to a broader idea.

using other people kuler themes (you wont get me unless youve been there) is probably ok, because people post the for others to use. however it is obviously less inspired than making your own colour scheme.

It depends what you're a genius at. Yes, you heard me, a genius. For example, I'm a genius at server side coding and not so much when it comes to design. Due to the fact that you can do one thing in an infinite number different configurations when it comes to coding means I can let myself go when it comes to that.

As for design, though the same is true, for me personally it is a different story.

The layout of AvengeX is inspired greatly from http://www.thinkvitamin.com and http://www.sitepoint.com - do you think this site shows evidence of those two sites mixed together? Personally after studying the forums structure of AvengeX I think not, even though I was constantly referring to Sitepoint's (ultimately vBulletin's) method of organization throughout the design of the module. The design is a little more obvious, but perhaps not done as well.

At the end of the day, people will be inspired by you. The same is true in real life: people constantly mimic others' mannerisms, jokes and traits; musicians copy others' rhythms, melodies and beats. Through inspiration, each person has a chance to better another's idea and then develop it. How can you say that's bad?

Then comes the issue of jealousy and people being overprotective over their work. Sadly the world is full of that these days.. it's simply human nature and greed. Some people just have to look outside the box and see that innovation through inspiration is a good thing.

I think colour scheming is the biggest sign of a rip. Sure, you can base a layout off another, but that's just being kind to the other person. I hate seeing sites with the exact same colour scheme as another. It's a blatent rip.