[GaryVoshol]

One reason, that John touched on but can be expanded, is that it is now so much easier to find information about other robots. Sure, there was internet 10 or 15 years ago, but how long would it have taken you do download just one picture of one robot? Now we have robot matches being posted to YouTube before the robots synch up for the next match.

The same problems that teachers and professors have with plagerism - it's just so easy to find a source that can be copied - applies to robot design as well. Once a design is out there, it can circulate freely.

I think the copied teams have nothing to worry about nor complain about. But John's points about whether you learn from copying are very valid concerns. Before you use someone else's design, ask yourself if the team will be getting as much inspiration from winning with a good robot as you would with sometimes winning with your own design.