Design Copyright: Who Actually Owns Your House Plans? – David Wilson | Home Building Podcast

If you're designing, drafting, or planning a new home, this episode will give you the clarity you need to avoid costly copyright disputes and protect your investment.

Design copyright is one of the most widely misunderstood parts of the home building process.

Who owns your plans? Can you take your design to another builder? Does changing ten percent actually protect you? And what happens if your builder goes under?

In this episode, we sit down with David Wilson from Stratocumulus Legal to break down the real rules around design copyright, plan ownership, implied licenses, moral rights, and the common myths repeated in the building industry.

Chapters:
00:23 Why design copyright matters in home building
01:03 Meet David Wilson
01:35 What design copyright protects
02:48 Why people misunderstand ownership
04:07 The ten percent change myth
05:52 What counts as infringement
09:15 Who actually owns house plans
14:10 Implied licenses and how they trap homeowners
18:04 Copying vs independent design
22:04 Shopping plans to different builders
25:00 Real industry examples and legal outcomes
27:10 Builder-supplied free plans and hidden copyright issues
29:26 When a builder collapses: who owns the plans
32:00 Removing logos and moral rights
34:17 How to protect yourself upfront
45:06 Final thoughts
51:30 The 10K Question

About Our Guest
David Wilson is the founder and principal of Stratocumulus Legal, a consultancy specialising in intellectual property, technology, and commercial advisory work. Before launching his practice in 2020, David spent more than twenty years at international law firms as an IP and technology lawyer, commercial disputes practitioner, and general commercial advisor. He also served as in-house counsel on secondment to a major Japanese corporation in Tokyo.

Throughout his career, David has advised on every aspect of intellectual property — from ownership, licensing, and assignments to infringement, moral rights, trade secrets, and design protection. His experience spans industries including building and construction, creative fields, startups, and emerging technology.

David has a particular interest in how copyright and other IP laws apply to new technologies such as generative AI, automation, and 3D-printing — making him a highly relevant and forward-thinking voice in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.

Get in touch with David:
Visit website: Stratocumulus: https://www.stratocumulus.legal/
Follow on Facebook:   / stratocumuluslegal  

Found the episode useful?
Please follow & leave a comment. It really goes a long way to getting it to more people like you.

Need building advice?
Find out more on our IBA website www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au

Want more home building episodes? Visit our YouTube or website https://independentbuildingadvice.com...

Follow us on socials: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Legal Disclaimer: This discussion is not legal advice. Please obtain advice from a Legal professional about your specific situation. Liability limited under a scheme approved by Professional Standards Legislation.