In 2012, I launched the ELLE Decoration Equal Rights for Design campaign to highlight the disparity between UK copyright protection for designed items versus the creation of art, music or literature. It was a loophole that made Britain the designer knock-off capital of Europe, with many a dubious dealer legally based here.
Backed by the likes of Sir Terence Conran and Sir James Dyson, I took the campaign to the government and despite vociferous counter-campaigning from the fake merchants, with support from organisations like ACID, I succeeded and the law was changed to bring copyright protection for items of design into line with other disciplines (protection for 70 years after the death of the designer) and EU law.
Initially the law change wasn’t due to be enforced until 2020 enabling an extremely lengthy transition period for retailers to phase out their dodgy stock. However, after continued pressure from manufacturers, the government capitulated and the fakers were given until the end of January 2017 to get shot of their shoddy goods.
Interview by Dezeen during the Milan 2012 Furniture Fair on the campaign…
READ ABOUT the beginning of the campaign to my eventual success: