Fabulously Original or Foolishly Fake, That is the Question!

As an artist, it goes against my grain to take credit for anything I didn't create myself. If I put even a scrap of something someone else created into a logo, or anything else I work on, I don't consider it my creation at all and I won't lay claim to it as my own.

Artistic temperament aside, including unoriginal work in your client's logo is simply bad business. When a client seeks out an agency, that client is relying on professionalism and the agency's ability to create a logo that accurately reflects the nature and purpose of their business. If clients wanted cookie-cutter logos they could go to Google images and find one for themselves. Instead, the client is counting on the agency to be innovative and not just copy and paste random clip art to which everyone and his brother have access. By using original work, an agency avoids placing its client in the embarrassing position of coming across obvious elements of its own logo in another company's brand.

It is normal to be inspired by or get ideas from someone else's work, but to use it as your own is unethical. And in the end you risk your own integrity, your agency's integrity and your client's confidence in you.