This is an interesting talk by Johanna Blakely, on how the fashion industry can survive and perhaps even thrive even though there are no copyright or IP protections. Other industries she mentions include comedy and comedians. She gives the example of “The Larry David” character, that only Larry David can do it and thus protect his work and income as a result. I wonder what she would say in the case where Larry David played “The Woody Allen” character in the film Whatever Works, which Allen directed but didn’t star.
Check out the website ReadytoShare for more inside info into fashion industry’s enthusiastic embrace of sampling, appropriation and borrowed inspiration (yes I copied that from their website).