Back in August, Senator Chuck Schumer introduced The Innovative Design
Protection and Piracy Prevention Act as a legislation meant to protect
designers from copycats and allow them to file for copyright protection for
their patterns and designs. The bill has been backed by The
Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) as well as the American
Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA). Just yesterday, the legislation was
unanimously passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. According to
Elle.com, "The new bill specifically states that it protects ‘unique
and original designs,’ so signature brands and young designers that have
struggled to keep their logos and designs from being knocked-off can now
breathe a little sigh of relief."
(Photo taken from NY Magazine's blog "The Cut")
So what does this mean for the knockoff industry? If the bill becomes a law
it will not eradicate knockoffs for good, but it would limit the
availability of counterfeits. Unique designs would be protected by law and
those who design, manufacture and sell knockoffs could be punished. Fashionista.com
asked Susan Scafidi, intellectual property attorney and director of Fordham’s
Fashion Law Institute, about the bill. She said it could “a) protect a new
design for three years after it’s been put into production, b) spur creativity
in mass retail, and c) stop designers–peers–from knocking each other off.”
The bill is greatly supported by those who value a designer’s creative
integrity and originality, and of course by the luxury designers themselves who
are constantly being copied by the counterfeit industry. We found some great
responses on Twitter:
"Knockoff's get a knockdown! It's a good
day for designers."
"Sorry (not really) for flooding with
tweets about the #IDPPA
but its passing today is revolutionary for fashion designers!"
"It's A Good Day for Designers. The Senate
Judiciary Committee unanimously passes IDPPA!"
We have to say we are pretty excited about this new legislation too!