Ask HN: Is it okay to copy someone else's idea? Sometimes I see a Show HN or product launch and think "wow, I'd love to do something like that", perhaps as simple as changing the target customer. Is it okay, for example, to take an idea aimed at developers and build something almost identical, but selling to designers? If it's pretty obvious the author of the original idea plans to expand in that direction, am I crossing the line by jumping ahead and trying to get there first? |
Most people talk up an idea, but never do anything with it. Talk is cheap.
That said, it is probably polite to not outright copy. For example no one likes the sites that mimic Stack Exchange's layout and even copy their content. Similarly if you copy someone's idea, market, and business model wholesale (without asking), perhaps expect some flak.
Check this out. http://everythingisaremix.info
IF it seems appropriate to give credit to someone else for inspiration, go for it.
Just remember, the market will determine the winner. Effectively, that's really all that matters.
"Adapting" and "significantly different": Yes. Reasonable.
But it's probably moot anyways since the chance of success are so low.
Nothing is ever entirely new. Everything has parts of other things in it.