U.S. Supreme Court broadens copyright protection

It seems that fashion designers can rest easy with a new decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court. Recently, the decision unveiled that the industry may become more broad about its fashion copyright protection rules.

On March 22, the Supreme Court made a decision on a recent case regarding fashion copyright. The case of Star Athletic L.L.C. v. Varsity Brands Inc. regarded an issue in which Varsity Brands could copyright part of a cheerleading uniform. The ultimate decision resulted in a 6 to 2 vote in favor of Varsity Brands, allowing it to copyright an element of the uniform such as a stripe or decorative aspect. As the company is known for manufacturing cheerleading uniforms, the decision could serve as a huge win for Varsity Brands.

“We were honored to serve as advocates and fighters for the basic idea that designers everywhere can create excellent work and make investments in their future without fear of having it stolen or copied,” Webb said in a statement according to Apparel News. The ruling enacted as a win for not only the company, but for fashion designers all over. Due to the decision, this means that designers will have more of a stake in their copyright material. While there have been numerous accounts of copyright issues between fashion retailers over the years, the new U.S. Supreme Court ruling has now effectively help expand copyright protection.