That's what the fashion industry has been trying to do for the past 20+ years or so. The fake designer clothing/bags are evidence of that.
Now, fashion designers CAN go after the fakes, because they've trademarked their logos/names. And fakes are designed to create "confusion" by posing as the real thing. But, still...thats related to *trademarks* versus *copyright*.
All costumes, clothing, knitting, etc, patterns are considered "useful articles" by Congress, and the item itself can't be copyrighted (although the words, images, etc of the pattern CAN be). The idea is that people can't copyright a hat or dress or a pair of jeans, etc. Can you imagine of Levis would have been able to copyright "jeans"...you'd only be able to buy them only from Levis.
NOW, if your costume, clothing, pattern, etc, has a very UNIQUE element (like your own designed embroidery pattern, etc.) then THAT unique element is copyrightable...but not the whole item in question.
(there's a good write-up on things like embroidery: http://www.tabberone.com/Trademarks/CopyrightLaw/EmbroideryDesigns.shtml).
I do agree with you that the stealing someone else's designs is completely unethical.
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Now, fashion designers CAN go after the fakes, because they've trademarked their logos/names. And fakes are designed to create "confusion" by posing as the real thing. But, still...thats related to *trademarks* versus *copyright*.
All costumes, clothing, knitting, etc, patterns are considered "useful articles" by Congress, and the item itself can't be copyrighted (although the words, images, etc of the pattern CAN be). The idea is that people can't copyright a hat or dress or a pair of jeans, etc. Can you imagine of Levis would have been able to copyright "jeans"...you'd only be able to buy them only from Levis.
NOW, if your costume, clothing, pattern, etc, has a very UNIQUE element (like your own designed embroidery pattern, etc.) then THAT unique element is copyrightable...but not the whole item in question.
(there's a good write-up on things like embroidery: http://www.tabberone.com/Trademarks/CopyrightLaw/EmbroideryDesigns.shtml).
I do agree with you that the stealing someone else's designs is completely unethical.