Copyright for Fashion Designs Proposed in Design Piracy Prohibition Act

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/
2007/08/09/AR2007080902019.html

During an hour that was one part C-SPAN and one part Style Network, [New York congressmen and fashion designers] pushed for the passage of the bill, which was introduced in the U.S. Senate last week and would give copyright protection to designers' work. (A similar bill has also been proposed in the House.)

Unlike other creative products such as movies, music or books, clothing has never been given copyright protection. Designers can trademark a logo, such as a polo pony, graphic lettering or a brand name. They can copyright a specific kind of ornamentation on a garment -- a unique kind of embroidery, perhaps. But they can't copyright the entire design of a dress. A manufacturer could make an exact reproduction of an intricately stitched Zac Posen gown, and as long as there is no counterfeit "Zac Posen" label inside, it's completely legal under current law.