Fashion industry wakes up to design protection

Domestic textile, clothing and footwear providers are becoming more aware of issues relating to intellectual property, a survey by IP Australia has revealed.

The government agency, in partnership with non-profit industry organisations the Australian Fashion Council and Fashion Group International, recently released the results of its 2009 Intellectual Property (IP) Awareness survey.

The study found there was a 24 per cent increase in the level of IP awareness among respondents this year, with trademarks proving to have the highest level of awareness (93 per cent), followed by copyright (86 per cent), patents (82 per cent) and design protection (75 per cent).

According to IP Australia, 75 per cent of respondents were “very aware” of intellectual property, marking a 24 per cent increase from the first survey conducted in 2008.

In response to the question ‘What information would be most help in your field work?’, strategies on protecting designs were rated the highest priority by 63 per cent.

The agency has been actively promoting its ‘Fashion Rules’ resource over the past year, a guide to IP for Australia’s clothing and fashion design industry.

The 2009 survey was emailed to IP Australia’s Fashion Rules and news databases, in addition to being distributed by Fashion Group International and the Australian Fashion Council. A majority of respondents were designers, followed by fashion teachers, production managers, business owners and marketing professionals.