ABSTRACT
This chapter reports on a study that investigated a global problem concerning the illegal copying of textile designs in furnishings fabrics. One objective was to assess the impact of firm-based knowledge of both national and international copyright law on design protection practices. Other aims concerned the identification of factors that influence the probability that a firm will suffer from design infringement, such as firm size or type, its organisational strategies, and its position in international markets. In addition, it was intended to provide a comparative perspective between the UK industry and the industry in two other countries, Italy and the United States, as well as assessing the impact of changing production technology, including the increasing use, worldwide, of computer-aided design. Finally, a range of copyright protection strategies were identified, with particular relevance to small firms in the industry.
