Fashion
The Fashion Industry
IP protection in the fashion industry is complex but important. This information is designed to help you understand what you need to do to maintain and defend your rights.
The key areas of protection for fashion designers are:
Registered designs, trade marks and patents need to be maintained to protect your rights. Annual fees are payable or you may forfeit your right.
We recommend that you speak to an IP professional about identifying and protecting the types of IP you might have in your business.
| What do you have? | How can you protect it? | How long are you protected? |
|---|---|---|
| Sketches | Copyright | Your life plus 70 years |
| Patterns | Copyright | Your life plus 70 years |
| Prints | Copyright | Your life plus 70 years |
| Photographs | Copyright | Your life plus 70 years |
| Manufactured garments | Registered design | Up to 10 years |
| One-off handmade garments | Copyright | Your life plus 70 years |
| Handemade jewellery | Copyright | Your life plus 70 years |
| Your name / label | Trade mark | Indefinitely |
| Logos | Trade mark | Indefinitely |
| Slogans | Trademark | Indefinitely |
| Innovations | Patent | Up to 20 years |
Last Updated: 13/9/2011
