Below is a petition that you might consider signing. This is from my friend Sara who is a seamstress extrodinare (she made my wedding dress!)  The petition is to prevent design registration in the apparel industry.  Passing a law to require apparel and accessories designers to register each design would put nearly 90% of all design based businesses out of business.  This effects us all.

There has never been any laws in the apparel and accessories design sector to protect intellectual property when it comes to design.  This is good for most of us:  we can be inspired by trends and styles worldwide and put our own twist on them without worrying about lawsuits.  As long as we don't try to pass off our work as the work of others for profit, we can go about our business.  Logos and other graphics are easy to register because they have been created as a branding device to differentiate.  In the apparel design field there is absolutely no way to protect your design, but there is also no way to stop you from designing whatever you want.  Brand recognition and protection is one thing when fake goods are counterfeit and represented as the actual product (ie Coach, Prada, Chanel etc counterfeit bags and sunglasses that you see everywhere).  We're not talking about counterfeit.

Let's put it this way:  the first person to make sweatpants would be the only one allowed to make sweatpants from here on out.

The first person to make a t-shirt would be the only one allowed to make them forever.

Only the biggest design corporations would be in business.  Small businesses would not be able to compete with all that money for registering designs, nor would it be feasable to offer support to any designs that may be lifted.  My business would be done.  "Made in the USA" would become nonexistent.  So would the majority of designers on Etsy.com.  Andrea, sucks for you too.

This effects every single one of us.  Please pass this link on and please consider signing this petition.  For more information visit:  www.fashion-incubator.com