Designers draw on their experience of design when approaching a new project. This includes the use of previous designs that they know work ― both designs that they have created themselves and those that others have created. ( ① ) Others’ creations often spark inspiration that also leads to new ideas and innovation. ( ② ) This is well known and understood. ( ③ ) However, the expression of an idea is protected by copyright, and people who infringe on that copyright can be taken to court and prosecuted. ( ④ ) This means, for example, that while there are numerous smartphones all with similar functionality, this does not represent an infringement of copyright as the idea has been expressed in different ways and it is the expression that has been copyrighted. ( ⑤ ) Copyright is free and is automatically invested in the author, for instance, the writer of a book or a programmer who develops a program, unless they sign the copyright over to someone else.

* infringe: 침해하다 ** prosecute: 기소하다