Intellectual Property and Fashion Industry

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.


COMBINATION OF TWO WORDS

Copyright Protection


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


• Applied art protected– Jewellery design– Patterns on clothes

• Useful articles not protected– Clothing design not protected


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.


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


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


Protection Ladder

• Fanciful• Arbitrary• Suggestive• Descriptive• Generic

Abercrombie and Fitch Ladder


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


Trade dress

• Unique design or packaging of a product

• Walmart sotres v. Samara Bros.– Children clothing- knockoff one piece

seersucker outfit

• Secondary meaning required


PATENTS

• Subject Matter - Inventions• Term - 20 years

Requirements• New• Useful• Non obvious

Rights - Use, Make, Sell, Offer for sale and Import


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


Trade secrets

• Confidential information

• Independent economic value

• ZARA- use of an IT driven system to shorten production cycle


Traditional Knowledge Angle

• Designs taken from traditional sources

• Benefit sharing


FOR ANY QUERIES:

[email protected]

THANK YOU!!!


Intellectual Property and Fashion Industry

Law

clothing design

trade dress unique design

article term

new designs

piracy paradox concept

accessories designs

cloth designs

clothes useful articles