Kate Spade is being sued for $1 Million in a copyright infringement suit over an iconic poppy print. The trustees of artist Vera Neumann's estate, who own all of the artist's copyrights following her death (for a total of 70 years from Neumann's death in 1993), have brought suit against the designer in a NY district court. According to court documents filed on Tuesday, the plaintiffs are alleging that Spade blatantly copied the artist’s famous 1979 design, Poppy Field. They very well may have a claim. While U.S. copyright does not protect entire garments, it protects separable prints and designs that are featured on garments as Pictorial, Sculptural or Graphic Works. More information to come....
Neumann's poppies
Spade's poppies
A poppy is a poppy!!! What about Susie Coopers poppy design done for Wedgewood, they all llok similar. Each poppy has its own characteristic put a brand on it and there's a copyright infringement. Give me a break... if she feels this design is of her original creation I suggest she take it up with Mother Nature.. The Spade purse is more of an interpretation the other is a poor copy.
ReplyDelete"I suggest she take it up with Mother Nature." - I love it!
DeletePart the Kate Spade brand's style is to draw very directly from 20th century design (using an old book cover for a bag design, for instance). I would be surprised if Neumann's flowers didn't play heavily in the inspiration/mood boards for the Kate Spade line. However, in the ultimate product, the poppies do not look close enough. The brush strokes make them more 2-d graphic than painterly like the Neumann flowers. The center of the flowers is more defined, rather than bleeding out into the rest of the flower. Also, the way they are laid out should be considered: lots of evenly dispersed flowers instead of a couple close-ups. Poppies are such simple looking flowers, how would you ever avoid looking like someone else?
ReplyDeleteI agree with your thoughts completely. When you think about the simplicity of a red poppy, I am a bit surprised Neumann has a valid copyright since there really aren't too many ways to paint one.
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ReplyDeleteI accidentally deleted your comment when I was trying to reply. I am so sorry! Please repost if you can!!
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