Comments on: The Fashion Piracy Paradox

By: Helene

Helene — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:52:31 +0000

Coming from the position of a producer in the film industry (and new to the fashion/design industry), I have this to offer:
During a Q&A session with young filmmakers expressing concern that their stories could be stolen by other producers/studios if they went out and pitched their ideas, Penny Marshall said, “If you have an idea that is good enough for anyone to bother taking, you’ll have another one.”
In other words, don’t let paranoia stop you from taking the steps you need to take to move forward-
This isn’t to say you shouldn’t take steps to protect your ideas (we register ideas at the Writers Guild of America), but then you have to let it go and move. No one can be truly creative while tied-up in knots worrying about being ripped off. If your great at what you are doing, you will continue to be great and the copycats will be left reproducing in your wake.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 19:31:02 +0000

My favorite IP quote is from Howard Aiken

Don’t worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you’ll have to ram them down people’s throats.

Btw, in the 40′s, Howard Aiken invented a computer which came to be known as the The Harvard Mark IV, the data cruncher for the Manhatten project. The Harvard Mark IV later became “Big Blue” and was manufactured by IBM.

By: Josh

Josh — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 17:59:54 +0000

lol Marylin, love that Coco qoute, that’s a print out and framer.

By: SB

SB — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 16:33:02 +0000

“The really creative person is working on their next idea long before the current project is finished”

This is so true. By the time we launch a new design/product, I’m tired of it and mentally on to the next thing.

By: marilyn

marilyn — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 16:19:27 +0000

Today’s (Sunday) New York Times Style magazine has several terrific articles on fashion and our culture. There’s an article on handbag designer Giuliana who has been designing in Venice since 1945. The article tells us she’s been knocked off over and over again. “When I was only doing bags, I found it particularly important to be always very well dressed, and so I became a cient of Chanel. Once in a fitting she saw me crying because someone had copied a bag which I had done exclusively for Neiman Marcus. ‘You must not cry now,’ Coco said. ‘You cry the day they don’t copy you.’” I thought you’d like to hear this perspective.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 13:17:28 +0000

This article was excellent and brought, for me, some clarity and insight as to how positioning goods are rather uniquely qualified for low-IP status. “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?” Yes, and more.

Diane: I heard being “cranked out” is bad for you.
Are you going to meetings?

Oh…you should see me in my “Depp” personae.

By: Diane

Diane — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 06:14:09 +0000

C’mon folks, it’s just clothing, not rocket science. Who invented the robe and sandals that Jesus wore? Should Birkenstock be paying royalities today? Was the linen a special weave and patented? Does anyone really care 2000 years later? In another 2000 years will it matter? So far it’s socially unacceptable to wander around naked but hey, with the next administration it might be politically correct. The really creative person is working on their next idea long before the current project is finished and they are cranked out day after day, year after year. If the designer sticks around then they pull out the archives and voila! everything old is new again. The person who wastes time worrying about being copied is a person with ONE idea. Certainly not a threat to anyone. Personally, I like the pirate look. Johnny Depp in poet shirts, tight pants and hoop earrings. Bring it on!