Copyright for posing?

[leviathanimation]

So if I use a random character art from google just as a reference for my character, like a reference for the pose and even the light and shadows, is it copying? Do I have to provide credit to the original artist for the pose? It would be weird if a pose would be copyrighted so..?

[fleet]

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer.
From what you describe, you should not be violating copyright law.

[GNVE]

Same disclaimer
Copyright often isn't a yes or no binary answer but more of a greyscale where if enough elements are the same it will eventually add up to substantially similar. If you only use the pose and lighting as a reference you should probably be alright.

[Imperf3kt]

Just make sure you don't rotoscope the image, as that will be seen as a derivative of the original work.

[Imperf3kt]

Copyright is violated if you use this product without personal changes for commercial purposes. If you need it to somehow change or modify it or improve it is not a violation of copyright

This is not right, I suggest you look up copyright laws, there are many and they all have different things you are or are not allowed to do with the file/image/thing.

[ISAWHIM]

Copy, under most normal "legal", circumstances is "Without change to the original", a duplicate, not a "derivative work". Which, would obviously be, "a derivative work". (Which there are many "fair-use" acceptions for, in various countries.)

Unless there is actually a "legally registered copyright", with a clear claim of ownership... Even a derivative work would be of little "winnable grounds", in a court of law. Honestly, it truly depends on too many factors that any single non-copyright-lawyer could not "claim", to be certain of. Thus, the need to hire a specific lawyer, for the task, if it is actually needed. (In most cases, it isn't needed. In situations where the work of art is a "derivative".)

You have to remember that only a judge can truly determine legality. Anyone-else is just an adviser. It costs money to actually sue people. Most cases are settled out of court and either end-up in compensations or simple friendly "take-downs", being honored.