Copyright Information
Updated On: September 11, 2024Are house plans copyrighted?
Like any other creative medium, house plans are copyrighted under the federal copyright laws. Copyright laws prevent anyone from reproducing, modifying, or reusing the plans or designs without Advanced House Plans written consent. All aspects of the plan including 2D artwork, 3D artwork, floorplan artwork, and technical drawings are covered by federal copyright laws.
Can I change a plan without violating copyright?
It is a common misunderstanding that making changes to or redrawing a plan found in a plan book is permissible. It is not. The right to modify plans is one of the exclusive rights of copyright. It is also illegal to copy or redraw a constructed home that is protected by copyright, even if you have never seen the plans for the home. If you find a plan that you like, you must purchase a set of plans from an authorized source.
Can I build the same plan more than once?
At Advanced House Plans, our default license type is a single use license. This permits the owner to built from the set of plans one time. If you build the plan more than once, you are infringing on copyright laws.
We do offer an unlimited build license that will allow you to build the home as many times as you would like.
Can I make copies or print from the PDF?
All of our plans come with a reproducible PDF copy of the plan set. You may take this PDF to any printer and they can print your PDF as many times as you need to. You can only build a home from the plans according to your construction license.
Are modifications to AHP plans by me still copyrighted?
Using CAD files to make your own modifications to a plan does not remove the copyright from the original author. This also means that plans that you have modified cannot be reused or resold without Advanced House Plans permission. Modifications to a plan by the purchaser also relieves Advanced House Plans from all liablity and voids any warranties expressed or implied.
Who is responsible for copyright infringement?
Any party who participates in a copyright violation may be responsible, including the purchaser, designers, architects, engineers, drafters, homeowners, builders, contractors, sub-contractors, copy shops, blueprinters, developers and real estate agencies. It does not matter whether or not the individual knows that a violation is being committed. You've heard it before: Ignorance of the law is not a valid defense! Refuse to be a party to any illicit copying or use of designs, derivative works, prints, design features or homes.
What are the penalties for copyright infringement?
Penalties for violating a copyright may be very severe. The responsible parties are required to pay actual damages caused by the infringement (which may be substantial), plus any profits made by the infringer commissions to include all profits and from the sale of any home built from an infringing design. The copyright law also allows for the recovery of statutory damages, which may be as high as $150,000 for each infringement. Finally, the infringer may be required to pay legal fees, which often exceed the damages.
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Advanced House Plans
3840 N 174th Ave
Omaha, Nebraska 68116