The Crisis in the Law of Designs

The Crisis in the Law of Designs is the title of Perry Saidman’s latest article that was published in vol. 89 of the Journal of the Patent & Trademark Office Society, April, 2007, pp. 301-338. This article explains the causes of this crisis, and provides a suggestion for turning the tide towards better design protection. More particularly, Section I describes the problems with attempts to protect industrial designs through trade dress and copyright laws. Section II expounds on how recent design patent decisions, and some long-standing problems, have made this once useful option problematic at best. Section III resurrects a long-forgotten legal reform that provides a design protection system that actually makes sense in the 21^st century.

If you would like a copy of this article, please go to the “Contact Us” page of www.protectdesigns.org and give us your email address with the comment “Crisis” and we will be glad to email it to you or e-mail: drl@protectdesigns.org

IDSA BECOMES FIRST CHARTER MEMBER OF THE DESIGN REGISTRATION LEAGUE

The Design Registration League is very pleased to announce that our first charter member is The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA).

The IDSA was founded over forty years ago in order to serve as a voice for the industrial design profession (www.idsa.org). Now, with over 3,300 members, IDSA continues its mission of advancing industrial design by signing on as a charter member of the Design Registration League.

The DRL is very proud that our country’s leading organization of industrial designers was the first to answer our call for companies and associations to support the enactment of a modern, 21^st century design protection law in the United States.

We wish to thank the IDSA for its vote of confidence and support.

Perry J. Saidman
Executive Director

The Design Registration League

8601 Georgia Avenue, Suite 603
Silver Spring, MD 20910
tel: 202-236-0753

e-mail: drl@protectdesigns.org

NEW CHARTER MEMBER JOINS THE DESIGN REGISTRATION LEAGUE

The Design Registration League is very pleased to announce that Design Ideas, Ltd. of Springfield, Illinois has joined as a charter member in the effort to pass a new sui generis law to protect industrial designs quicklyPublish Post, inexpensively, and effectively.

Design Ideas creates functional, fashion-forward, and moderately priced home and office accessories that appeal to a broad range of design-conscious consumers (www.designid.com). The company designs, manufactures and globally markets more than 1,500 innovative and affordable products for the home and office under the slogan, “We make things interesting.”

The DRL is very proud that Design Ideas has joined our call for the enactment of a modern, 21^st century design protection law in the United States.

We wish to thank Design Ideas for its vote of confidence and support, and invite other like-minded companies and associations to join as well. For more information, see www.protectdesigns.org.

Perry J. Saidman
Executive Director

The Design Registration League

8601 Georgia Avenue, Suite 603
Silver Spring, MD 20910
tel: 202-236-0753

e-mail: drl@protectdesigns.org