intellectual property and fashion industry
DESCRIPTION
Intellectual Property and Fashion IndustryTRANSCRIPT
27th March, 2010© BananaIP
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY&
FASHION INDUSTRY
Presented by:
NISHANT KEWALRAMANI
Presentation Agenda
Piracy ParadoxPiracy Paradox
Copyright ProtectionCopyright Protection
Design ProtectionDesign Protection
Trademark ProtectionTrademark Protection
Patent ProtectionPatent Protection27th March, 2010 © BananaIP
Piracy Paradox
• Concept given by Kal Raustiala & Christopher Jon Sprigman
• Piracy is a boon for the Fashion Industry.
• The piracy paradox encompasses two concepts:
– Induced Obsolescence– Anchoring
27th March, 2010 © BananaIP
Piracy Paradox (contd.)
• Induced Obsolescence-– As design spreads its positional value grows.
– Exhaustion by popularity paves way for new designs.
• Anchoring-– Latest trend communicated by flooding market.
27th March, 2010 © BananaIP
COMBINATION OF TWO WORDS
Copyright Protection
27th March, 2010 © BananaIP
COPYRIGHTS (contd.)
•Idea/Expression Dichotomy
•Tangible Form
•Originality and Modicum of creativity
•Subject matter - Literary, Dramatic, Artistic, Musical, Cinematographic, Photographic and Sound Recording works.
•Term - Life plus 60 years
27th March, 2010 © BananaIP
• Applied art protected– Jewellery design– Patterns on clothes
• Useful articles not protected– Clothing design not protected
27th March, 2010 © BananaIP
Conceptual Severability
• Mazer v. Stein– Balinese statuettes used as base for lamps– Protected or not?
– Test:• The aesthetic elements of an article can be
separated from the utility or function of the article.– Court said protectable as copyright.
• Such severability not possible in case of cloth design but possible for patterns on clothes.
27th March, 2010 © BananaIP
Is it a feasible option?
• Mass production takes away copyright protection gets into design protection (50 articles in India)
• Protects only expression
• Modicum of creativity required
• Substantial similarity not an objective test27th March, 2010 © BananaIP
Design Protection
• Aesthetic appearance of an article
• Term 15 years (10+5)
• Ornamental features should be novel- bell bottoms example
• Design- Copyright tussle
27th March, 2010 © BananaIP
Issue of Functionality
• Ornamental characteristics to be separated from functional characteristics.
• If the design is a direct result of the function then such a design is not protected.
• Cloth designs???
• Shoe and accessories designs???27th March, 2010 © BananaIP
Trademarks
• Any indication that uniquely identifies a source of products
• Distinguishing one source of goods from another
• Consumers perspective
© Brain League IP Services Pvt. Ltd27th March, 2010 © BananaIP
Power of trademarks
Nike
Armani
Louis Vuitton
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Protection Ladder
• Fanciful• Arbitrary• Suggestive• Descriptive• Generic
Abercrombie and Fitch Ladder
27th March, 2010 © BananaIP
Infringement of trademarks
• Confusing similarity– Likelihood of confusion– Louis Vuitton v. S Malik CS case- Delhi HC
• Epi leather trademark
• Dilution– Blurring– Tarnishment
• Fair Use
27th March, 2010 © BananaIP
Trade dress
• Unique design or packaging of a product
• Walmart sotres v. Samara Bros.– Children clothing- knockoff one piece
seersucker outfit
• Secondary meaning required
27th March, 2010 © BananaIP
PATENTS
• Subject Matter - Inventions• Term - 20 years
Requirements• New• Useful• Non obvious
Rights - Use, Make, Sell, Offer for sale and Import
27th March, 2010 © BananaIP
PATENTS (Contd…)
• Novozymes– Danish Biotech Company– Use of enzymes in treatment of fabrics– Stone washed denim– Holds more than 4200 patents
• Grindi– Italian company– Fabric made of cork
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Trade secrets
• Confidential information
• Independent economic value
• ZARA- use of an IT driven system to shorten production cycle
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Traditional Knowledge Angle
• Designs taken from traditional sources
• Benefit sharing
27th March, 2010 © BananaIP