Today’s fashion plagiarist is spoilt for choice. The Internet is flooded with high-resolution images of the latest designs, and catwalk shows are live-streamed on social media.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on brands and retailers to cut costs in an increasingly tough market, and design departments are shrinking. As a result, the perennial problem of copying is becoming even more prolific.
Are influencers at risk if the products that they create sponsored posts for infringe upon trademarks? A recent case suggests that this may become an increasing possibility.
Molly Sims, a model and influencer, has become entangled in a trademark infringement lawsuit, with a court refusing to dismiss her because she allegedly caused consumer confusion about an eyebrow product.
What happened
Blockchain (a distributed ledger comprising cryptographically linked data, enforced by a disparate network of computers) and cryptocurrencies (virtual currencies powered by blockchain technology) entered the mainstream consciousness a few years ago. More recently, these innovations have entered popular culture via gaming. In some games, players can now purchase cryptocurrencies for use as an in-ga
American jewellery brand Tiffany & Co, founded in 1837 and recently acquired by luxury conglomerate LVMH, is hoping to connect with young consumers with its next marketing push. Teasers for its upcoming advertising campaign feature three heavy-hitters — power couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z, and a painting by the late Jean-Michel Basquiat.
While Beyoncé and Jay-Z are two of pop culture’s most
Companies in the media, communications and creative fields have no shortage of interns and freelancers to choose from. Unfortunately, these industries are also rife with exploitation. Can this come to an end?
We’ve heard of large companies being accused of idea theft by independent innovators and smaller brands, but what happens when the alleged perpetrator is a religious institution? This is the situation Rome street artist Alessia Babrow has been grappling with. Last year, she discovered a stylised image of Christ she had created had been reproduced without her permission — by the Vatican itself.
For some innovators, absolute secrecy seems to be the only way to truly protect their idea. We speak to a solar technology entrepreneur about his experience with IP theft and whether there is any alternative way forward for innovators in his industry.
Independent designers and brand owners are as susceptible to idea theft as ever, but increasingly, those affected have been eschewing troublesome legal processes for calling out the responsible parties on social media. PitchMark looks into the advantages and disadvantages of doing so, and if there are alternative solutions.
Celebrate World IP Day with us on World Intellectual Property Forum from April 26 to May 5, 2021.
Do you have the right to post a photo of your product on Instagram, when that photo was taken by someone else?
Live Better Music claims Epidemic Sound walked back on their music licensing agreement by making content claims on Live Better’s videos on YouTube. Live Better says it licensed the tracks from Epidemic Sound legally. Problem is, they can't find the previous Terms of Service document, which proves it.
An Indian movie has allegedly copied the background of its movie poster from an artist, and has even supposedly stolen its plot from a French movie.
