DESIGN PIRACY.

The article discusses complexities regarding the issue of design piracy. The article presents the common law, which dictates that a copyist is permitted to copy any unregistered design if he/she does not represent him/herself as the originator. Conversely, the originator must establish the form of his/her product as distinct. The article discusses the concept of the "style cycle," where a select group of persons adopts a style which is subsequently adopted by those below it in social and economic status, the style works its way down to the poorest, all the while, the select group moves on to another variation of the style. The article argues that within this cycle, which has an economic side, the self-proclaimed originator needs the copyist, and is also an adapter of some previous design.