Fashion design copyright
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fashion design copyright refers to the web of domestic and international laws that protect unique clothing or apparel designs. The roots of fashion design copyright may be traced in Europe to as early as the 15th century.[1]
As of 2016, in most countries (including the United States and the United Kingdom), fashion design does not have the same protection as other creative works (art, film, literature, etc.), because apparel (clothes, shoes, handbags, etc.) are classified as "functional items", except when copyright laws can be applied. This explains the success of the knockoff businesses to the detriment of established labels and emerging designers, the latter ones being especially damaged, because they rely on relatively few designs.[2]