A Tri-Partite Classification Scheme to Clarify Conceptual Separability in the Context of Clothing Design

Authors

Giovanna Marchese, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Abstract

The article examines the complexities of copyright protection for clothing designs under the 1976 Copyright Act, focusing on the challenges of applying the conceptual separability doctrine to determine when artistic elements of useful articles, like clothing, qualify for protection. It critiques the inconsistent judicial application of this doctrine and proposes a tripartite classification scheme—fabric pattern design, fabric graphic design, and garment design—to clarify and simplify the analysis of copyrightability. By addressing the ambiguity in current jurisprudence, the scheme aims to enhance predictability for the fashion industry and reduce judicial confusion.

Disciplines

Intellectual Property Law | Law

Recommended Citation

Giovanna Marchese, A Tri-Partite Classification Scheme to Clarify Conceptual Separability in the Context of Clothing Design, 38 Cardozo L. Rev. 375 (2016).
Available at: https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/clr/vol38/iss1/11