Can stealing ideas of this kind be illegal?

[MrMocks]

A fictional example:
Let's say I live in Spain and come across an online shop in the USA that combines plants and horoscopes. More specifically, the shop sells a different matching plant for each zodiac sign with an individual horoscope text on the flowerpot. I think this is a cool idea and since I know a little about plants and astrology I would like to adopt the idea one-to-one. Of course with my own texts for the horoscope and an own graphic design. Can I be prosecuted for this? It's just plants and horoscopes, nothing new in themselves. Only the combination makes it original.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Can I be prosecuted for this?

I'm not a lawyer and this is not legal advice, but I don't think so. You're simply taking an existing concept and tweaking it into your own vision. Horoscope signs, as far as I know, aren't copyrighted.

You cannot, however, COPY custom designs, steal text, brand markings, and other stuff essential to another's brand.