panies can currently sell replica goods providing 25 years has passed from the date the item originally went on sale, but a new EU ruling has extended that period to 70 years.Businesses which sell replica furniture could become liable to a potential fine of up to £50,000, and a custodial sentence of up to ten years. An EU ruling means that furniture replicas will be banned under copyright laws. Versions of the Eames chair (pictured) are currently available for less than £500, but people will soon have to pay £5,000 for an original Can you tell the difference? Cheap versions like the one on the left will be banned when the law is imposed, bringing the £1,200 Castiglioni design (right) back into copyrightThe ruling will appease designers who see their work recreated by high street chains at a fraction of the price, but homeowners will have to pay much more for fashionable furniture. Versions of the Eames chair are currently available for less than £500, but these copies will be banned, meaning people would have to pay £5,000 for an original.
Other iconic designs which will come into copyright include the Egg chair by Arne Jacobsen and the Barcelona Chair by Mies van der Rohe.A £250 replica Arco Floor lamp, like one owned by David and Samantha Cameron, would be taken off the shelves and the PM would have to pay £1,200 for an authentic product.The coalition government's decision to repeal Section 52 of the Copyright, Designs & Patents Act 1988, as part of the the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, was expected to be implemented in 2020, to give companies affected time to adapt.However, a legal challenge has forced the government to fast track it to April 28 this year. This is despite complaints the short period would cause 'disproportionate harm'.Companies will have six months to sell their stock from this date.The changes have been backed by the likes of Sir Terence Conran and Vitra, a Swiss-based company which is licensed to produce many of these classic designs. Other iconic designs which will come into copyright include the Egg chair (left) by Arne Jacobsen and the Barcelona Chair by Mies van der RoheTony Ash, Vitra UK managing director, said: 'We are very pleased with the change.
Vitra's view is that if a law is changed for sound, logical, legal reasons, why wait another five years to enforce it?'We merely wanted the UK to conform to EU laws as quickly as possible after the government agreed that EU IP laws had to be adhered to in the UK.'The originals that we stand for are certainly superior to a copy. A design classic has a history and an added emotional value.' Professor Lionel Bently, an intellectual property expert at Cambridge University, is one of a number of legal academics who are critical of the change.He said: 'The repeal of section 52 was targeted at those who produce replicas of classic furniture but lots of other interests are in fact going to be affected by it.'Companies which publish design books may have to get numerous licences to reproduce photos because designs have come under copyright.'Even with respect to replica furniture makers, importers and sellers, the process has been far from satisfactory. The Government has flip-flopped over the length of the proposed transitional period from five years to six month for fear of being sued.'They are scared of being sued and that seems to be a strange way to go about determining appropriate and proportionate protection of the established property rights and legitimate expectations of third parties.'
ARCO FLOOR LAMP BY ACHILLE & PIER GIACOMO CASTIGLIONI Replicas can currently be bought for between £150 and £250An authentic lamp first produced by Flos in 1962 will now cost around £1,400.Pier Giacomo Castiglioni died in 1968Will now be under copyright until 2038 BARCELONA CHAIR WITH OTTOMAN BY LUDWIG MIES VAN DER ROCHE Replicas can currently be bought for around £500An authentic chair and ottoman made by Knoll, licensed in 1929, will cost around £5,700Ludwig Mies van der Rohe died in 1969Will now be under copyright until 2039 EAMES LOUNGE CHAIR BY CHARLES AND RAY EAMES Replicas of the chair licensed in 1956 can be bought from around £279An authentic chair made by Vitra will cost from £3,390Ray Eames died in 1988Will now be under copyright until 2058 THE ORIGINAL 'EGG' CHAIR BY ARNE JACOBSEN Replicas of the model, first patented in 1952, can be bought from £329An authentic chair made by Conran will cost around £5,000Arne Jacobsen died in 1971Will now be under copyright until 2041
Expired Copyright Homeware Organisation, a campaign group, has called on the government to postpone the changes until 2020.Ivan Macquisten, ECHO campaign adviser, said: 'While ECHO members have been aware for some time of the threat to their livelihoods, others affected are only just waking up to the far-reaching consequences of this law change. 'Many of those whose businesses are at risk, as well as important cultural institutions and the consumer, have no idea of what is about to hit them.'At this late stage it is not too late to avert disaster, and we appeal to the Secretary of State, who has been extremely sympathetic to the case we have put forward, to do the sensible thing.'A spokesperson for the Intellectual Property Office said: 'Changes are being made to copyright law to bring copyright protection for works of artistic craftsmanship into line with other artistic creations like paintings and sculptures. It is important that creators are rewarded for their work.'Initially the government felt that five years was an appropriate time to allow the change in law, however after reviewing this decision in light of a legal challenge, the government now believes a short transitional period is more appropriate.'
New copyright laws in the UK have come into effect, banning replicas of some of the most-copied icons of 20th century furniture design – including pieces by Arne Jacobsen, and Charles and Ray Eames (+ slideshow). As of 28 July 2016, dealers cannot make or import new furniture copies. After a transitional period of six months, they will no longer be able to sell them either. The change brings the UK – once derided as "a Trojan Horse for the importation of copies into Europe" – into line with the rest of the EU, which has longer-lasting copyright protections. While the future of the laws may be uncertain following June's Brexit vote, for the time being UK copyright protections for industrial design have been extended. They've changed from 25 years after an item is first marketed to 70 years from the death of the creator. This is the result of the repeal of section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988, which previously exempted industrially manufactured pieces from the copyright protections afforded to artistic works.
Although there's still a legal grey area for items "inspired by" designer classics and boasting only small differences from the originals, the shift could spell the end for businesses that rely on rip-offs. Here are 10 of the most copied designs that are now protected: Designed by: Charles (1907–1978) and Ray (1912–1988) Eames The plastic Eames DSW chair with its Eiffel Tower-like base is one of the most copied pieces of furniture. Discount supermarket chain Aldi was recently selling pairs of replica Eames chairs for £39.99. That's a fraction of the £339 it costs to buy a single authorised version of the chair, manufactured for the UK market by Swiss design brand Vitra. While UK law deemed the chair out of copyright 25 years after its marketing in 1950, the repeal effectively means it will be protected until 2058, 70 years after Ray's death. The Eameses were famously advocates for democratic, affordable design, so the merit of replicas of their furniture is often a subject of debate among their fans.
Arne Jacobsen Egg chair, 1958 Designed by: Arne Jacobsen (1902–1971) Originally designed for the Radisson SAS hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark, Arne Jacobsen's Egg easy chair has since been manufactured by Republic of Fritz Hansen. Recognisable to the British public as the diary room chair from the first series of Big Brother, it can be bought for £559 through replica retailer Vita Interiors. That compares to £4,283 from Fritz Hansen. The design is now protected until 2041. Hans Wegner Wishbone chair, 1950 Designed by: Hans Wegner (1914–2007) Also known as the CH24, the Wishbone chair has been in continual production by Carl Hansen & Sons since 1950. Its name comes from its characteristic Y-shaped back. Retailing for £504 at design store Skandium, a version of the chair can also be purchased for £120 from Swivel UK. The Danish design classic is now copyright protected in the UK until 2077. Designed by: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886–1969)
Even though it was designed a full 87 years ago, the leather and chrome Barcelona chair remains one of the most iconic seats of the 20th century. It will now be copyright protected in the UK until 2039. The official version manufactured by Knoll, retails for £5,232. Replicas can be purchased for £455 from Swivel UK. Designed by: Xavier Pauchard (1880–1948) By contrast, the Tolix chair, designed five years after the Barcelona, will be newly copyright protected for only the next two years. The new copyright provisions cover designs for 70 years after the death of the creator, and Tolix's French designer, Xavier Pauchard, passed away 68 years ago. The metal Tolix has been a ubiquitous design, with replicas available in supermarket chain Tesco for £59.99. Still made by original manufacturers Tolix, the official version retails for £187. Jean Prouvé Standard chair, 1950 Designed by: Jean Prouvé (1901–1984) French designer and architect Jean Prouvé first began work on the Standard chair in 1934, although it wasn't released until 1950.
Traditionally manufactured in wood and steel, it has a distinctive shape with thin front legs and more robust, load-bearing back legs. While Vitra holds the licence to manufacture it in the UK, where it retails for £547, an "identical" chair can be bought through Voga for €124. The UK's new copyright provisions will protect the Standard Chair until 2054. Designed by: Eileen Gray (1878–1976) Previously out of copyright since 1952, the E1027 will now by protected in the UK until 2046. Gray originally designed the adjustable metal table for her own house, wanting a multipurpose item that could serve as an occasional, side or bedside table. Aram Designs holds the worldwide licence for Gray's designs, and sells the E1027 for £510. At Swivel UK, the replica is £108. Isamu Noguchi coffee table, 1944 Designed by: Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988) Sculptor and designer Isamu Noguchi is said to have described this 1944 coffee table as his best furniture design.