I recently cloned a SaaS application as a personal project for learning purposes. My version features most aspects of the original app, including some functionalities that are paid in the original version. I didn't copy any backend code—everything is rebuilt by me. I'm currently considering sharing this with friends or even publicly, but I'm uncertain about the legal and ethical implications. Is it generally acceptable to share this kind of project, or should I keep it private?
5 Answers
What you’re doing is known as clean-room design, and that's totally legal! But the ethical side is something you’ll have to sort out personally. Check this out for more info: [Clean-room design](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean-room_design).
Thank you!
As long as you’re not charging for it and it’s a personal learning project, you’re probably on safe ground. However, just be careful about sharing a clone that offers paid features—it can create a legal gray area, especially if the original has strict terms against reverse engineering. A good approach could be to make your version stand out, like adding new features or changing the UI, so it clearly feels like a unique project.
I understand. Thanks for your insights!
It sounds like you built everything from scratch, which is great! But just be cautious about any applicable licenses or patents if you've replicated features. Also, consider that a lot of open-source projects do similar things—reinventing existing products for learning or other purposes. You might want to think about open-sourcing your code as a way to contribute!
Good point! If you really created it from the ground up, you're probably in the clear. But make sure you didn't reverse-engineer anything; that could get tricky.
I built it from scratch, too. What's your take on having a similar UI? I'm not linked to the original SaaS; just thought it’d be an interesting project.
From what I know, features and UIs aren't protected by copyright, so if you coded everything yourself, you’re likely safe legally. Ethically, replicating a UI isn’t uncommon; many apps share similarities. In fact, it might even help users who’ve used similar products before!
Got it, thanks for clearing that up!
I'd recommend keeping it private. Even if you've rebuilt everything, putting out a free version that undercuts their paid product might not sit right with everyone. But hey, great job on the learning project!
Yeah, I had that feeling.
Thanks for the clarification! I was curious about this too and learned something new today.