Bill Targets Designer Knockoffs

Copycat clothes would be blocked for 3 years
By Heather McPherson,  Newser User
Posted Aug 10, 2007 8:34 AM CDT
Bill Targets Designer Knockoffs
A model presents outfit from Taiwanese fashion designer Shiatzy Chen's autumn and winter collection, Wednesday, July 25, 2007, in Taipei, Taiwan. Chen's collection is inspired by styles and materials from the 17th - 21th century, featuring woolens and ruffles, organza and cotton velvet, crystal and...   (Associated Press)

Capitol HIll is considering a bill that would place fashion designs in the same league as a work of art that can be copyrighted, protecting designers from cheap knockoffs for three years. Currently, designers can copyright logos and names, but manufacturers can legally replicate their creations stitch for stitch—and they do.

Under the bill, designers who copyrighted their work could sue for damages and press to have the fake goods destroyed. Looks "inspired by" name-brand fashions would still be legal. Fashion houses lose billions when quicky knockoffs hit the racks before the real thing. Case in point: millions of ersatz versions of Carolyn Bisette's wedding dress were sold before the designer, Narcisso Rodriguez, could get the original to the market. He sold 45. (More fashion stories.)

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