Is it ok to copy someone's tattoo?

I have a friend who has a Hopi bear paw on their arm. It symbolized and gave strength to them at a very difficult time in their life. Someone they work with and hardly know has decided to get an identical tattoo in the same spot. Is that a compliment? Or is it like stealing? Or is it not worth thinking about?

-sigh- Sounds like theft to me :( Did they have a reason other than "it looks cool"?

Nope. That was exactly what they said. My friend has had the tattoo for almost 10 years and worked in the same building with this other person for most of that time. They didn't even realize that the person liked it until they said they were going to get one exactly like it in the same spot...because they "thought it was cool". I think that a tattoo is a personal thing. Something you kind of "own". It was a first tattoo for my friend and she shares it with her son. She put a huge amount of thought and time into choosing it. It's a big part of her identity. But maybe it's something that you should share? I could see it if they were close. But they aren't. This same person has also copied important & unusual jewelry.

NO! BAAAAAAAAAADDDD! BAAAAAAAAAADDDD! BAAAAAADDD WORK FRIEND! BAD!!!!!!!!!!!! SIT!!!!!!!!!!!

it's like all these douchebags that get heartagrams cus bam has one.

It shows total lack of creativity, respect, and probably brains as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FUCK 'EM ALL!!!! TCE

That just makes me sad. :/ I can only imagine how SHE felt when she saw it!

. Stalkers suck. Unless...they are really good looking and are willing to put out. Other then that, style stalkers can be/and often is the most dangerous of all poser stalkers. They don't bite off something that is often unrecognizable...such as silly catch phrases or pimp walks. They often attack identity at the most sacred of grounds, right on the forefront of identities...the visual aspect. At all times the poser claims the identity of the host, bringing the host down with their parasitic bullshit. FUCK THEM!!! Yes…yes it looks like you have one of these poser stalker on your hands. You must take care of the problem immediately before the host has withered away and died…unable to be original ever again. Truly a sad day for us all here at tattoonow.com

She doesn't need to feel bad,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,It's her design!!! The other dumbshit is the copy cat, and everyone probably knows it. TCE

And as a side note, when a tattoo looks cool on someone, it's because it's on that person.................if the design looks out of place on someone, then it doesn't appear 'cool'. When people steal designs like this, it's the result of a wannabe psychology that dictates that having as similar tattoo will make them cool as well. Fortunately, it's rarely the case, and they just end up looking foolish. TCE

It sucks that she is copying something as personal and permanent as a tattoo, but if it was me, I would be more concerned with the real motivation behind the copying........ever seen the movie "Single White Female"......

omg, that is such a complete blower...that's why i want a custom piece...and if anyone ever compliments it i'll be like yea, but you better not show up with it. I mean, using it to work off of (something similar but your own) i can see, but taking it exactly and putting it in the same spot! and you don't even ask what it means? I am going to eventually get something to represent my mom and the hard times we been through but we are still a loving family, and if someone asked me what it meant, and i told them, and they got it, i'd be soooo pissed. and, you guys just made me scared!!! My sister-in-law-to-be copys me on like, EVERYTHING....i guess i ahve some hope tho...she hasn't gotten any piercings yet! But, she is planning on making her first tattoo (yea right, like she's going to get one) a tinkerbell....just like mommy....*rolls eyes* Man, tattoos are supposed to make someone individual, not add to the "everyone is the same". x.X

As long as people see your tattoo there will be people wanting to copy...no way around it that I know of...

I'm going to raise a few points to try and piss everyone off... >>I have a friend who has a Hopi bear paw on their arm. << First, seems to me that unless your friend is Hopi, then the design has been 'stolen' at least once from the git-go... On the other hand, all kinds of designs get used over and over again...just because someone is the first one on their block to get a yosemite sam tattoo does not mean they now have dibs on it for a 5 block radius, and someone does not need to be scottish to get a celtic knot design...imho If it is an original design and you put a copyright sign on the tattoo somewhere visible, then that would be stealing if someone were to get an identical one...sounds like what you described is simply a: >>...total lack of creativity, respect, and probably brains as well...<< as tcephoto said...

My girlfriend, excuse me, fiance found that someone had copied her foot tattoo i had done for her copied line for line and same exact colors twice now. at first, it was flattering to know someone likes my design enough to want to have it for themselves, but looking at it from my girls pov it is kinda insulting because we spend hours getting a design exactly the way she wanted it, and now someone can hit print on the computer and take it to some shop and her individuallity has been stripped without so much as a email or anything to see if it would be ok. Another point, what kind of artist takes a picture printed from someone personal portfolio and justifiablly copies it for the customer. I hate when someone asks me to copy someone elses artwork, it makes me feel like im stealing and i refuse to. Enough ranting, I've said all i need to........

Just goes to show you that some people will do anything in the interest of convience, and the all-mighty George!

So, to sum up an answer to the original question; Yes, it is okay to copy someone's tattoo..................................But only if you're a douche! If you've done it, you're a douche!! No apologies necessary, because you're a DOUCHE!!! If it was a flash design, then you're forgiven...................... TCE