Level Up Coding Copyright Notice


Usage & Copyright Guidelines for Our Visuals

We publish original infographic-style visuals. We’re excited when creators share them; but there are clear copyright boundaries around what can and cannot be done.This page explains those boundaries in plain language.

The key copyright boundary: idea vs expression

Copyright does not protect the idea (the topic, facts, or general concept). It protects the expression: the specific way the idea is presented (layout, composition, arrangement, wording, and the creative design choices).For infographics, the protectable part is often the selection + arrangement of elements and the specific visual composition; not the underlying facts alone.

What you CAN do (✅ allowed)

1) Repost our original image as-is with credit
You may repost our original image unchanged, provided you:
Do not modify the image (no edits, re-colors, re-layouts, AI filters, crops that remove attribution, etc.)
• Include clear on-post credit (e.g., “Visual by Nikki Siapno/Level Up Coding”)
• Link to our original post or profile
2) Link to our post
• Sharing our link in your caption, bio, newsletter, or community is always welcome.
3) Create your own infographic from scratch on the same topic
You can cover the same concept/facts if you design your own original expression:
• Different layout and structure
• Your own wording
• Your own visual organization and iconography
• No tracing or reworking from our file
(Sharing ideas is fine. Copying the expression is not.)

What you CANNOT do (❌ not allowed)

1) “AI re-skinning” our visuals (style/color changes)
If you take our visual and run it through AI (or any tool) to change the style, palette, fonts, illustration look, or “vibe,” but the composition/layout/structure remains the same, that is typically treated as creating an unauthorized derivative/adaptation of our work.
Style changes do not automatically avoid infringement if the underlying protected expression is still substantially copied.2) Copying the structure/layout “skeleton”
Even if you redraw everything, you cannot closely replicate our:
• Layout grid and hierarchy
• Unique arrangement of elements
• Sequence and grouping
• Distinctive combination of icons + labels + placement
That “structure” is part of the protectable expression when it reflects creative selection/arrangement.
3) Posting our visual (or a derivative) as your own content
• No reposting without credit
• No removing watermarks/attribution
• No implying authorship
4) Commercial use without permission
This includes:
• Using our visuals in ads, paid products, lead magnets, courses, client work, or brand accounts
• Republishing on monetized pages where the visual is a core value driver
Please contact us for licensing.

“But I changed it, isn’t that transformative?”

Sometimes copyright exceptions exist (for example, fair use in the US, or narrower “fair dealing” style exceptions in other countries). These are fact-specific and depend on purpose (criticism/commentary, news reporting, parody, etc.). In general, reposting a modified version as substitute content for the same audience purpose is less likely to qualify as an exception than genuine commentary/critique where the work is used as evidence or reference.

Permission & licensing

If you want to:
• Adapt our visuals
• Translate them
• Rebuild them in your brand style
• Use them commercially
Please contact us for permission/licensing through this form.
Include: the link to the post you want to use + how you plan to use it.

Reporting & takedowns

If we see unauthorized copies or derivatives, we typically:
1. Reach out directly first (fastest resolution)
2. If needed, file a platform copyright report

Quick examples

Allowed:
✅ “Here’s a great infographic by Level Up Coding / Nikki Siapno” + reposted unchanged + credit + link
Not allowed:
❌ Downloading our image → running an “AI cartoonizer / re-color / redesign” → reposting the output
❌ Rebuilding the exact same layout and structure with your colors and fonts
❌ Cropping off attribution/watermark and reposting

Summary

You’re welcome to:
• Repost unchanged with credit + link
• Create your own original work on the same topic
You’re not allowed to:
• Modify our visuals (including AI re-skins) and repost them
• Copy our underlying layout/composition and call it new