If I make a counterfeit copy of The Mona Lisa, buy the paint myself, the canvas, and do the painting myself, is it not still a rip? Yes. I still stole the design and could not sell it as my own work, I'd probably be arrested.
Only if you signed DaVinci's name on it, or claimed it was the original. But really: If you had that kind of talent, why would you waste it copying the work of others? You (as v does) would strike out and create original works.
The sad thing is, if MrGrim01 had asked v's permission to port with the intention of selling, I'd bet v would have come to some arrangement with him, or would have helped the guy somehow. Well, he'll never have that chance now.
