Fash frat wants design protection

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In order to protect his trademark bandhgalas and breeches, which have been his runway regulars since 1994, designer Raghavendra Rathore is now taking legal steps and applying for copyright protection for his designs for his label Raghavendra Rathore, which has been custom-making their core product for over two decades now.

From the piping and print inside the collar, to the technique of finishing, to the inner design, the precise technical pattern details that emulate the particular look of the cut of the Raghavendra Rathore bandhgala and jodhpurs will be his patent designs now.
Citing his reasons for taking this step, Rathore says it’s very important for designers to claim rights for their original creations, “As design companies become corporate, the management will always seek solutions to protect the core products which are in synergy with the brand for business reasons like their counterparts in other businesses such as watches, cars and technology companies,”
With the rise of design thefts, many designers support the idea of seeking copyright protection for their exclusive motifs. Many designers have patterns or designs that are uniquely theirs — Rohit Bal is known for his version of lotus motif, J.J. Valaya is known for his Alika jackets. Designer Ritu Kumar says it’s important to claim legal protection, “I want my 20-year-old print designs under the copyright law.”
Seconds designer Ashima Singh, “Designers with prints and motifs which they have produced over the years deserve a copyright stamp. I have really worked hard on my print designs including my fish and triangular prints, for which I want copyright protection,” she says.
A copyright can cost a fashion designer `800-`1,000 per design, and every two years it has to be renewed.
Designer Siddharth Tytler says, “Markets like Chandni Chowk and Lajpat Nagar, two of the oldest and busiest markets in Delhi, have a reputation for selling fake designer items. It’s shocking and unfortunate to see multiple imitations of designs by Tarun Tahiliani, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and my own designs. But I don’t really care or have the time to apply for copyright. My collection mostly is in-season, which goes out after a year. It’s important, but the procedure takes years to complete and comes with lot of loopholes.”
Designer Anjalee Kapoor feels the fashion industry needs to tackle the issue and demand a positive change in the court of law, “Our fashion industry is in a terrible situation and it’s disgusting to see cheap and substandard copies of our designs done by the parallel industry. It is important that designers as well as the government take appropriate action rather than maintain silence and construe copying as flattery,” she adds.