Tattoos and Popularity

As tattoos gain popularity and acceptance, you might come across designs you love on social media platforms like Pinterest or Instagram, or even on other people.

While it may seem tempting to replicate these designs, doing so would involve copying another tattoo artist’s work, which is generally discouraged. A tattoo is a personal and unique commitment, both for you and the artist who created the original design.

Most Artists Won’t and Might Take Offense

Most reputable tattoo artists will not copy another tattoo and might actually take offense if you ask them to. Tattoo artists are, in fact, artists. They want to tattoo you with their own art.

This isn’t just a creative preference; tattoo artists generally have mastered a certain style (or styles). Their best designs and execution will be in these styles. They want to be confident and proud of your tattoo.

If you see a tattoo design online or on someone’s body and ask your tattoo artist to replicate it exactly as shown, this is considered copying. Copying another tattoo is not only seen as rude but could also violate copyright laws. If an artist uses someone else’s work and gets paid for it without crediting the original artist, that is breaking copyright law.

If you’re using another artist’s tattoo design as inspiration for your own, this is not an issue. However, if you want to copy another tattoo design exactly as it was originally inked on someone else, there are ways you can avoid any issues or violations of copyright law:

• The first thing you need to do is contact the original artist and ask for their permission to use the design or some aspects of it. When doing this, make sure the person you contact is the original creator of the design and not someone who has copied it.

• If the original artist refuses to give you permission to use their design, you could ask them to collaborate with you to create something similar but unique to you. Collaborating with the original artist provides you with joint ownership of the new design, allowing you to use it at a later date.

Work with Your Artist to Create Something Personalized!

If you see a design that you really like or are inspired by, why not take it to your artist and ask them to create a unique tattoo design using the image as inspiration? This approach won’t offend anyone or break any laws. You’ll also end up with a stunning, one-of-a-kind tattoo of your own to show off.

Buy the Tattoo Design Online

You can now buy tattoo designs online. By doing so, you’re not breaking any copyright laws, as you have paid for the rights to use the design. Additionally, several online design apps and websites use AI to generate custom images, allowing you to create a unique tattoo design tailored to your preferences.

When Is It Okay to Copy a Tattoo?

There are times when getting the same tattoo you saw is acceptable. Some tattoos are designed to be reproduced en masse, such as flash tattoos.

These tattoos are common styles, usually drawn on paper and displayed in tattoo studios. They are available in all studios, so you can choose a tattoo knowing that what you see is what you get. Keep in mind that if you choose this route, you are not getting something unique.

There are, of course, tattoos driven by trends, such as the infinity symbol, hearts, skulls, and tall ships. However, these designs can still be customized with floral elements or modified to create a more individualized look. Tattoos associated with movements or causes are often designed to be identical or similar to clearly convey their symbolism. 

For example, the semicolon tattoo is a well-known symbol representing mental health awareness and suicide prevention, using the punctuation mark as its design.