What are the rules about copying a cake that I see here or in a book? I make a few cakes for family and friends, usually just a simple design of my own. But I just copied a darling cake I viewed here for a friend's baby shower. Is it okay to put my "copy cake" in an album? If we copy a cake from a book, should we say where it came from?
I don't want to offend someone who has designed a beatiful cake that I have tried to copy.
I just copied a cake that I found on here for a friend. I think most people are ok with it, I try to give credit where possible so people can look at the original if they want to. The reason I post my own pictures is to hopefully help share ideas with others so they can use them if they like them, of course I am still new at this so I have probably gotten more ideas than given 
Always give credit as to where your design idea came from. It's a respect thing. I look at is in the wasy of if I did a cake & someone copied it ( not that it would happen) I would be very happy. I would also expect them to give my name on my work.
We can't copy a monet without giving him credit.
I've noticed that here on CC if someone were to post up a cake they made based on someone elses design they contact that person and ask them if its okay to use and then repost. Even if you do get the 'permission' to use the design its usually polite to point out in your description where it originally came from and who it was by.
Its such a friendly and helpful atmosphere here on CC, its all about learning and sharing which is just so great! 
But also bear in mind that there are only so many ways to wrap a ribbon around the base of a tier, or to decorate a tier with scrolls, so no one can really claim ownership of certain designs. Some things are so common that they can't be copyrighted or trademarked (learned from my past experiences where my job required that I work with our corporate attorneys on trademark and copyright items in our business and industry).
I've tried some decorating ideas that I've seen on here or in magazines and I will reference that I got the idea from or was influenced by (source). As mentioned, it is a courtesy thing ... a way of saying 'thanks for sharing' here on CC.
But when a bride brings me a picture of a cake and wants that one made, it is not prudently possible to track down where every one of them came from.
For the record, I will be most honored if someone uses one of my cakes as a base for their next creation! Copy away!!!
indydeb took the words right out of my mouth. There have been a few times where I thought I came up with a new way of doing something, only to see that someone else had thought of it, too! I rarely copy entire designs, but I use them for inspiration all the time.
Hi Jajam,
It is fine to use someone else's cake for inspiration. When posting the picture, make sure that you include the owner's name(s)
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