Children it is said will repeat words and phrases on the average of 76 times in the effort to learn them. More than one composer has stated, "I don't borrow, I steal with both hands".
In a funny paradox -and this may be arguable, Sting used the Police as a vehicle to reach a point where he could play jazz instead, and would be heard. And lastly we've heard the Stones ripping off country/blues/folk and making it their own.By any means necessary, imitation, theft or mimicking it can all work