I'm designing a website, and I want to use the iPod's user interface as the base/template of the site. But is the interface itself protected under copyright? Can I use it without getting sued?
By the interface, I mean like the white background, the same font, the blue highlight as you highlight a link and etc. Basically a website that's organized like the content on iPod is.
The site will strictly be a personal website, with no intention of commercial purposes.
2007-12-13 15:36:42 · 3 answers · asked by David 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
As I understand, the look and feel will be copyrighted, but on the device.
If you use the same interface on your website and put in a disclaimer that the interface is (c) Apple and you are using it just as inspirations, I dont think Apple will go out of the way to sue you.
As a large co, apple has enough things to worry about than one personal site somewhere which has a look and feel as the iPod. Any such lawsuit looks cheap and petty and doesnt go too well in PR either. As an example, there are umpteen number of sites out there with skins that look like Mac OS X. (I know, as I use coppermine photo albums, with a Mac skin).
As long as you acknowledge the Apple copyright, they wont bother much. After all, you are actually marketing their name.
2007-12-13 17:02:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh yeah. Anything to do with Apple is copyright up and down back and forth. Person above is right, they probably also have copyrights on 'the look'. If Apple finds your site you will be sued.
2007-12-13 15:49:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You better believe it's all protected. It's probably got a service mark notice on their site, which means that the look of it is protected. Why not just ask them and see? Asking won't hurt you.
2007-12-13 15:40:35 · answer #3 · answered by Katherine W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋