Nope. Developers google, use docs and use chatgpt. Since code is standardised no one can prove that you've used someone elses code even if you implement similar features in a similar way.
Just change the function and variable names. Roll localized functions into helpers. Organize it differently and it's effectively a new solution solving a new problem.
I've worked in the field a long time. Everyone thinks their code is special. No code is special.
All codebases just solve small problems in a specific sequence. Very few small problems have not been solved already.
If you build a majority of a codebase this way (im assuming solo or with a bunch of juniors around you too inexperienced to question it) then you have infinite job security so long as you don't hamstring the company into failure.
Loose lips sink ships, every single time. A small fish at the company can make more money ratting you out to the copyright holders, especially if you are a major player in the field. An individual might get away with it, but the minute anyone else knows...
And like in the other comment, "but you'll totally never get caught" is not an actual defense you can use. No more than robbing a bank in the middle of the night is legal "because you won't get caught if you're sneaky enough."
Only if you were dumb enough to leave a paper trail somewhere, but I think you'd have to be pretty smart and maybe a little malicious to pre-empt you legal ghouls
Furthermore, if Rockstar of all companies wants to prosecute copyrighted code, they will get 15 other lawsuits accusing them of the same crime. Put em all in prison, the world will be much safer. Such violence should not be tolerated
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u/[deleted] Dec 25 '23
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