Speak up about knock-offs

Oprah, we're not.

As tempting as it would be to have the power Oprah wields on any topic, we have to resort to more ordinary methods of getting people's attention. However, we're taking designer Rick Janecek's advice to heart and asking our readers what they think about our industry's continuing copying of the design of others.

Design plagiarism or stealing intellectual property or knocking off a competitor's product — whatever you call it, it's a big problem in our industry and no one seems to know quite what to do.

Our Designer panel certainly has their opinions about the issue (see our new Designer Insight blog). I think you will find their answers insightful, as well as varied.

The issue is complex because, as everyone knows, there really are no new and original shapes, colors, designs. All come from centuries earlier and are open to creative interpretation. Someone sometime designed something similar, but good designers put their distinctive touch on it.

To me, that's a different issue than the sometimes blatant copying of designs we see in showrooms at every market.

Everyone expresses disdain for stealing designs, sometimes even as they stand in showrooms filled with copies. Retailers claim they want only original designs, only to eagerly embrace cheaper knock-offs they believe they can sell at better mark-ups. Designers are asked to knock themselves off by big retailers who want the same look at a better price point.

What do you think? Is this really a problem or is the plethora of sameness simply the way we do business these days. Are expensive lawsuits the only answer? Is it worth the effort to sue? Whose fault is it anyway?

We'd like to hear what you have to say. Share your opinions on our new Designer Insight blog on our home page (HomeAccentsToday.com).

Do you care about this problem?