Don't ask me to break the law

[StevieJD]

What about those plans from a book when you like the plans but want to change something in the basement area? Like putting in a room that would be a kennel for my sled team.

The change has to be significant.

Significant is for the lawyers and their spawn, but in general if I can readily recognize the work as being based upon mine it is most likely not changed enough.

[draftermatt]

Your drafting instructor is both correct and dead wrong. I think the guidelines are along the lines of you have to change it at least 10%.

Intent matters here. If you are copying someone's plan but just moving a cabinet to make it 'yours', that's copyright violation. If you like what someone has done with a living room but redo the kitchen, bathroom, and exterior, that's more drawing inspiration.

True, I think he said it to be facetious, and thankfully I've never had to worry about copyright infringement since I've only ever gotten "I like this, but I want these rooms bigger, kitchen over here, two story kitchen instead of a two story foyer (no idea) etc.

[Aethian]

The change has to be significant.

Significant is for the lawyers and their spawn, but in general if I can readily recognize the work as being based upon mine it is most likely not changed enough.

Well dang...now I feel like I've lost my dream home.

[flightfreak]

Isn't this a sad sad world where everyone thinks that they are entitled to whatever they feel they are entitled to. From a 25 cent pack of gum to design services, to car services, to XBOX games...

As a fellow designer I can say that I feel for you. Kudos for you for doing the whole networking thing and letting your friend know about someone was trying to take his work. I know that coming up with a design is tough, and then you feel very personal about that design.

Good luck.