From the catwalk to the courtroom, fashion shows are big business and cultivate a kind of creativity and ingenuity that makes them distinctive and highly watchable.  The legal issues surrounding fashion shows and presentations are widespread, touching upon various aspects of intellectual property, contracts, and corporate law.

With the rise of new technology and evolving consumer behaviors, the minefield of legal concerns involved in runway shows are multilayered and complex. Register now to secure your tickets for the Federal Bar Association’s Fashion Law and Innovation Conference on October 24, 2018 in Paris, France.  Cosponsored by the French American Bar Association, this is your chance to discuss the legal rules related to runway shows. Sign up at www.fedbar.org/parisfashionlaw18.

Panel III titled “Modern Day Challenges in Fashion Shows” features moderator Céline Bondard (Cabinet Bondard) along with speakers Olivera Medenica (Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP), Zeeger Vink (Maus Frères), and additional panelists to be announced, all discussing the latest issues concerning trademarks and branding in both France/EU and the United States.

Panelists will include perspectives from in house as well as outside counsel, and will cover online infringement, unlicensed distribution, unfair competition, and counterfeit products. Esteemed practitioners will address intellectual property issues and social media at fashion shows.

Presenting a collection means showcasing designs that will be live-streaming, apparel seen through video clips on YouTube, and video loops of the runway show in retail stores. As such, the live and public nature of fashion shows gives rise to numerous legal implications regarding unfair competition, counterfeit products, social media concerns, and copyright infringement.

Music has always been critical to the emotive experience of runway shows but how does music licensing work and what legal rules should you be aware of when streaming a runway show on your social media platforms and website?

Additionally, what rights (and limitations) does the designer, model, and spectator have to runway images? How has the use of augmented reality and virtual reality posed questions about privacy, design piracy, and copyright infringement?

See now, buy now? As soon as fashion models hit the runway, copycat designers are quickly able to replicate runway designs, flooding the market with nearly identical, poorer quality, and discount versions of the original clothes. Thanks to social media, copycat designers are more engaged than ever and immediately have access to “looks” and designs. Consequently fast fashion chains are able to construct highly profitable businesses that rely on design piracy. The live coverage of runway shows and red carpet arrivals has changed the game when it comes to branding and the law.

Panelists will investigate the legal contracts that bind together designers, models, hair and make-up artists, spectators, photographers, lighting technicians, and celebrities for fashion presentations. Speakers will explore whether the United States and European laws do in fact respect and protect unique ideas and promote creativity in the fashion marketplace.

Get your tickets today for the Fashion Law and Innovation Conference to discuss a myriad of intriguing and timely topics related to Fashion Law! Register now at  www.fedbar.org/parisfashionlaw18.

 

 

 

Stacy Slotnick, Esq. holds a J.D., cum laude, from Touro Law Center and a B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She performs a broad range of duties as an entertainment lawyer, including drafting and negotiating contracts; addressing and litigating trademark, copyright, patent, and other IP issues; and directing the strategy and implementation of public relations, blogging, and social media campaigns.