Comments on: Copycat Culture | The Shape of Things http://www.businessoffashion.com/2009/07/copycat-culture-the-shape-of-things.html The Business of Fashion is an essential daily resource for fashion creatives, business professionals and entrepreneurs in more than 200 countries around the world. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:49:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Raphaëlle http://www.businessoffashion.com/2009/07/copycat-culture-the-shape-of-things.html#comment-125116 Raphaëlle Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:42:52 +0000 http://www.businessoffashion.com/?p=5336#comment-125116 Very good point. The perfect example would be Chanel's 2.55 (although it does have a logo on it). Who would want to buy it when the average person on the street is wearing one. The 'matelassé' and 'chaines' then become associated with vulgarity in the traditional meaning of the word. But we have to point out that this raises a debate about the devenir of highstreet retailers such as Zara and H&M who literally copy famous designers and popularize the models through democratic pricing. By definition, doesn't 'fashion' mean: 'what everyone does'? Therefor, we could ask ourselves whether, if we kept the exclusivity of a model to unique benefit of use to one fashion house-designer, firms like Zara would not be able to copy, the model stays relatively unacessible and so the model would never become fashionable? This also raises the question on who influences who? The luxury firms designers influence highstreet retailing designers or luxury firms designers are influences by the 'high street' trends? I believe it is a circle, influencing each other. Bur I have to say, I would argue in favour of patenting. Very good point. The perfect example would be Chanel’s 2.55 (although it does have a logo on it). Who would want to buy it when the average person on the street is wearing one. The ‘matelassé’ and ‘chaines’ then become associated with vulgarity in the traditional meaning of the word.

But we have to point out that this raises a debate about the devenir of highstreet retailers such as Zara and H&M who literally copy famous designers and popularize the models through democratic pricing. By definition, doesn’t ‘fashion’ mean: ‘what everyone does’?
Therefor, we could ask ourselves whether, if we kept the exclusivity of a model to unique benefit of use to one fashion house-designer, firms like Zara would not be able to copy, the model stays relatively unacessible and so the model would never become fashionable?

This also raises the question on who influences who? The luxury firms designers influence highstreet retailing designers or luxury firms designers are influences by the ‘high street’ trends?
I believe it is a circle, influencing each other. Bur I have to say, I would argue in favour of patenting.

]]> By: kikelola http://www.businessoffashion.com/2009/07/copycat-culture-the-shape-of-things.html#comment-10957 kikelola Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:34:19 +0000 http://www.businessoffashion.com/?p=5336#comment-10957 Great point lauraG. A equilibrium must be struck between the copyright protection laws and creativity constraints. This issue comes in shades of grey, not black and white. Great point lauraG. A equilibrium must be struck between the copyright protection laws and creativity constraints. This issue comes in shades of grey, not black and white.

]]> By: LauraG. http://www.businessoffashion.com/2009/07/copycat-culture-the-shape-of-things.html#comment-10806 LauraG. Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:02:28 +0000 http://www.businessoffashion.com/?p=5336#comment-10806 great article, it makes some very interesting points. how about jewelry? can distinctive designs -like Bulgari or Cartier- be copyrighted and if yes what is the extent of the copyright protection (ie how many modifications are allowed for the design to be considered "original")? i really believe there should be more attention on regulation in this field, even though it's hard to find a balance between protection and creativity constraints great article, it makes some very interesting points. how about jewelry? can distinctive designs -like Bulgari or Cartier- be copyrighted and if yes what is the extent of the copyright protection (ie how many modifications are allowed for the design to be considered “original”)? i really believe there should be more attention on regulation in this field, even though it’s hard to find a balance between protection and creativity constraints

]]> By: May http://www.businessoffashion.com/2009/07/copycat-culture-the-shape-of-things.html#comment-10797 May Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:31:50 +0000 http://www.businessoffashion.com/?p=5336#comment-10797 Really interesting debate. The issue with copyright and other IP protection is always the same however - balancing the need to protect the design, mark or in this case the shape - against the public interest in not giving individuals and other entities general monopoly over such things like shapes. I think though ,if it's distinctive enough it should be protected. It just needs to be careful as not to be so strong or general a protection that it adversely affects the freedom of future designers to be creative in their designs! May Really interesting debate. The issue with copyright and other IP protection is always the same however – balancing the need to protect the design, mark or in this case the shape – against the public interest in not giving individuals and other entities general monopoly over such things like shapes.

I think though ,if it’s distinctive enough it should be protected. It just needs to be careful as not to be so strong or general a protection that it adversely affects the freedom of future designers to be creative in their designs!

May

]]> By: DC Fashion Gal http://www.businessoffashion.com/2009/07/copycat-culture-the-shape-of-things.html#comment-10760 DC Fashion Gal Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:48:55 +0000 http://www.businessoffashion.com/?p=5336#comment-10760 Great article. I feel very strongly about counterfeiters myself and feel that it every designer's right to have their designs, brands, etc. copyrighted. I think you bring up a very interesting point, one that I never thought about before, about the legal protection of a design of a particular luxury good. I think it IS important to have protection of such items that lend themselves to a particular consumer group. cheers! Please stop by my blog sometime! DC Fashion Gal www.fashiongalindc.blogspot.com Great article. I feel very strongly about counterfeiters myself and feel that it every designer’s right to have their designs, brands, etc. copyrighted. I think you bring up a very interesting point, one that I never thought about before, about the legal protection of a design of a particular luxury good. I think it IS important to have protection of such items that lend themselves to a particular consumer group.

cheers! Please stop by my blog sometime!

DC Fashion Gal
http://www.fashiongalindc.blogspot.com

]]> By: Sonia http://www.businessoffashion.com/2009/07/copycat-culture-the-shape-of-things.html#comment-10649 Sonia Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:49:07 +0000 http://www.businessoffashion.com/?p=5336#comment-10649 Interesting post. Just as you said, the distinction between what should be protected is very unclear. I used to be very much in favor of strong copyright protection laws until I watched a Canadian Documentary called "RIP: a remixers manifesto". They explore the notion of copyright laws actually limiting future creativity, as well as the reality that many of today's iconic designs are also inspired by, or have borrowed from those before them. Now I'm not so clear. Worth checking out: http://www3.nfb.ca/webextension/rip-a-remix-manifesto/ Interesting post. Just as you said, the distinction between what should be protected is very unclear. I used to be very much in favor of strong copyright protection laws until I watched a Canadian Documentary called “RIP: a remixers manifesto”. They explore the notion of copyright laws actually limiting future creativity, as well as the reality that many of today’s iconic designs are also inspired by, or have borrowed from those before them. Now I’m not so clear. Worth checking out: http://www3.nfb.ca/webextension/rip-a-remix-manifesto/

]]> By: Edwina Owens Elliott http://www.businessoffashion.com/2009/07/copycat-culture-the-shape-of-things.html#comment-10646 Edwina Owens Elliott Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:22:09 +0000 http://www.businessoffashion.com/?p=5336#comment-10646 Love the last two paragraphs. It says so succinctly what I've been trying to put into words for years. Thank you. Love the last two paragraphs. It says so succinctly what I’ve been trying to put into words for years. Thank you.

]]> By: Imran Amed, Editor http://www.businessoffashion.com/2009/07/copycat-culture-the-shape-of-things.html#comment-10606 Imran Amed, Editor Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:59:42 +0000 http://www.businessoffashion.com/?p=5336#comment-10606 @Dahlia, You're absolutely right. We have made the change. @Dahlia, You’re absolutely right. We have made the change.

]]> By: Dahlia http://www.businessoffashion.com/2009/07/copycat-culture-the-shape-of-things.html#comment-10602 Dahlia Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:07:33 +0000 http://www.businessoffashion.com/?p=5336#comment-10602 Speaking of shapes... but isn't the Kelly supposed to have only one handle coming from the top and the Birkin has two handles which latch on from the sides? Speaking of shapes… but isn’t the Kelly supposed to have only one handle coming from the top and the Birkin has two handles which latch on from the sides?

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