Can someone become a app developer by modifying a app?

[LJ Sal]

I am trying to understand this but is it possible for someone to become a developer from modifying a app? for example modded apps like Kik and whatsapp that people take the apk and remake it and add new features to it. after they modify the apk does that make them the new developer of the modded app and have developer powers to access users permissions on it?

 

[Johnly]

Good developers can modify apps and in some cases make them better without building them from the ground up... The legalities of proprietary copy wright laws have noting to do with what a developer can do. I would never claim to be a developer of an app that I modified, unless I "did not modify it." just made a better alternative to it.