The Anas Acuta (Valley Boats) is a direct copy of a W. Greenland Kayak that now sits in a meuseum in England. If you copy the Anas, who should get reimbersment. Valley boats or the Greenlander from 100 years ago. So much of this has to do with the intention of use. Weither it's for resale or not.

I feel in most cases you have to search you ethitical feelings. I wouldn't hesitate to take the lines off a Sea Lion if you really wanted to make a strip built version of it for you own use. I'm sure if it was an exact copy, it would be illegal. If you donated it to Perception to put on display, they would probably pay you. But to copy a boat that's built from plans that someone has designed for the purpose of building, would seem unethical.

At one time, there was a lot of discussion that the Necky Arluk 1.8 was a copy of the Valley Nordcap with a different bow and stern. (nothing was proved)