http://tags.library.upenn.edu/tag/design+fashion_copyright PennTags Feed http://tags.library.upenn.edu/makerecord/url/35120 http://tags.library.upenn.edu/makerecord/url/35120 <p>United States. Cong. House. Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property Committee on the Judiciary. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Testimony of Congressman William Delahunt, Hearing on Design Law- Are special provisions needed to protect unique industries</span>. [Introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives; 14 February 2008].</p> <p>This is the actual testimony of Congressman William Delahunt arguing in favor of the Design Piracy Pohibition Act, which is a bill that has been pending for quite some time in Congress. If passed, this bill will give all unique pieces of clothing three years of protection. In his testimony, Delahunt states that fashion counterfeiting costs US businesses a minimum of 12 billion dollars every year. He also says that because the fashion industry is expanding in the United States, more and more teenagers are pursuing fashion careers. However, with the growing piracy problem, these aspiring individuals will not be able to make their mark in the fashion industry because soon counterfeit and piracy will take over the industry. Moreover, he quotes Newsweek contributor Dana Thomas who stated, "Most people think that buying an imitiation handbag or wallet is harmless, a victimless crime. But the counterfeiting rackets are run by crime syndicates that also deal in narcotics, weapons, child prostitution, human trafficking, and terrorism." Therefore, he argues that if Congress passes the Design Piracy Prohibition Act, not only will it be highly beneficial for the fashion industry, but it will also help discourage crim syndicates and other illegal activities.</p> <p>Although this source is against my thesis, which is against copyright on fashion, it is a very invaluable primary source that will allow me to acknowledge the other side of the debate in my paper. In doing so, it will make my argument against copyright even stronger because I will then state reasons why approving such a bill will still be unfavorable in the end. Furthermore, Delahunt makes several excellent statements about the fashion industry and the troubled economy at present that I will be able to address in my paper.</p>