Knock it off

The New York Times looks at the experience of a trendy handbag designer whose design was ripped off by a mass market competitor at a low price: That Looks Familiar. Didn’t I Design It?: “A quick Internet search revealed that, in its winter line, Abercrombie & Fitch was also selling a cable-knit held together with wooden dowels and bedecked in preppy-looking ribbons. To the untrained eye, the bag was identical to those made by [Nicole] Dreyfuss’s company, Margaret Nicole of Manhattan. There was just one glaring distinction: the price.”
At The Trademark Blog, Glenn Mitchell advises knock-off designers: Can I Knock-Off the Louis Vuitton Cherry Blossom Bag?: “Coming close to a popular design without going over the line is no assurance that the subject of your sincere flattery will not bring all its might and main to make you stop, and that you might not have the wherewithal to withstand such an assault. Nevertheless, here are some general guidelines to follow in creating a lawful imitation (bearing in mind that every situation is unique).”