Copyright of house plans by previous architect

ey143 · 1 Oct 2015

Am I allowed to amend existing house plans for future use for making new amendments without wanting to use the architect's services any more than what I previously commissioned him for?

Example: if the plans show front and rear elevations, could I just take the A1 hard copies, blank the part I need changed and draw it to scale and submit as my new plan?

freddiemercurystwin · 2 Oct 2015

In reality yes.

^woody^ · 2 Oct 2015

You can do what you like, but if he chooses to enforce his copyright, you will be at fault.

freddiemercurystwin · 2 Oct 2015

But that's extremely unlikely to happen. I can almost guarantee he will have used someone else's drawings in the past on a previous job, it happens all the time.

^woody^ · 2 Oct 2015

Some people may regularly check on a property's history to see if subsequent work has been done using their plans/design.

There is using for plagiarising as in the OP, and using for information to draw new plans. The two are different.

freddiemercurystwin · 2 Oct 2015

The two actions happen all the time throughout the industry.

Nakajo · 2 Oct 2015

If you've paid the architect's fees then you have probably acquired a license to use the drawings in some way, so I suppose it depends on the terms of license - although in practice it seems unlikely that the copyright holder would be much bothered.

mfarrow · 6 Oct 2015

If you keep his name on it, drew something obscene/impossible on it which is likely to damage his business, then he has every right to complain.

But a lot of people copy drawings and artwork for their own purposes and some even to sell. As long as you make it yours in some way by altering it then there can be no recourse.

^woody^ · 6 Oct 2015

mfarrow said:
As long as you make it yours in some way by altering it

Great. Check out my forthcoming Christmas Album of Beatles songs. Woodster's Kazoo Khristmas©. Also on iTunes and Google Play.

Nakajo · 7 Oct 2015

Downloaded.

^woody^ · 7 Oct 2015

Nakajo said:
Downloaded.

Thanks for your support. No sharing with your mates though.

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Copyright of house plans by previous architect

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