Hello Everyone!
I am not sure if such discussion is permitted on this Forum or not - but seeing that we have such a high-level global audience here, I'd really love to know your thoughts!
I am personally still learning the craft, however I see myself being a leather craftsman, obtaining the required certification and establishing a brand.
However at the moment I do not see myself as a "designer" - perhaps it is lack of experience, but I have difficulty coming up with an entirely unique design - instead I like to look at a product, work-out a pattern for it and perhaps change a few things to my taste (ok, mostly my Wife's taste :) ) and create that.
I see many craftspeople on Instagram who create gorgeous items - and some of them are basically the same as "name brand" products (most of the time even higher quality than the original!!).
So what I'd like to know is as an established brand - what are the ethical/legal views on this?
Is, for example, making a Birkin style bag "copycatting"? Or can it be sold under your own name?
Of course, my dream - as probably most of yours too - is to create a unique design that when someone sees they immediately know who it is made by - but in the meantime a business needs to grow somehow.
Looking forward to hearing from you all on the Forum! :)
Thanks!
My question instead it would be about the protections (copyright) in case you find your personal unique pattern. how can you protect it if you are at the begin and of course you are not Hèrmes and you have not a lot of money to invest? Exist a way to do it? To proof that's it's your model in case of copy?
On a related point. It's quite funny to know that the Birken bag was inspired by a feedbag for horses, the irony of which we should not delve too far lest we begin to scrutinize the ethical and spiritual implications of the pursuit of status symbols. We don't want to bite the hand that feeds.
No. My stories today were not about copying they were more about how certain shapes always come back in style after being gone for many years
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Peter!
And I guess as with most creative work the topic is indeed up for interpretation - but I think I do understand the point you're making, really helpful!
Also... is it a coincidence or your Instagram stories today relate to this discussion? :)
Hi Gergo,
This is quite a big topic of discussion :-) I'll try and give my viewpoint on this is a very condensed way.
One-to-one copying is never correct. Just changing one small detail doesn't make it ok, or make it your own design.
Making something in the "style of" or "similar too" is totally fine. Every brand does it. Thats because thats the current style and what people want. There is a reason that when you think of 80s fashion you think of big shoulder pads and stone washed jeans. It's because most every designer was working within those trends. It doesn't mean the were copying. When something becomes a trend every brand and designer is rushing to do their own version of it because thats is what the customer is interested in.
You are right, everyone wants to design that item that is unique and instantly recognizable as their own, however even most of these instantly recognizable pieces are just variations on something that came before it but somehow got more famous and people automatically associate it with that brand and think that they were the originator.
Creating something completely different and original is great and encouraged, however you will find that there isn't much of a market for those items because people are interested in similar things that they already know. That's just the was it is!
As said, this is a huge topic. Where the line is drawn between copy and inspiration...people have a lot of different ideas. So i'll leave it at this for now.
p