News Oct 14, 2008 @ 8:59am

Bush Says: No Fakes!

by Natalie Hormilla

fendi vs forever 21.jpg You wouldn’t think it, but President Bush has been busy with more than just saving the country from financial implosion - he’s also had fashion on the brain.

Yesterday, he signed an anticounterfeiting bill that will make the consequences for knocking off a Fendi bag all the more serious and scary to those waiting in the shadows with a pencil and tracing paper. The bill includes that President Bush will appoint a sort of piracy and counterfeit czar who’ll chair his or her own committee to fight knock-offs of all kinds (clothes, art, music, etc) in accordance with the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property (PRO IP) Act.

So, basically? The government has allocated lots of money ($25 million) to make a department that helps members of the FBI train state/local officials to seek out the producers of knock-offs, in addition to doubling the fines that intellectual property pirates face, making the job all the more unattractive.

So does this just mean more random public crackdowns on Canal? Or does all this new cash mean the giants (you know who) come tumbling down, too?

« Sweaters Save the World

Fashionista Main

posted by AmandaMichele

Oct 14, 2008 11:13AM

I am all for protecting designers from copyright infringement, but this country has some serious issues right now that are affecting the entire planet, why did he have the time to even see this bill? Does this really warant his attentions at a time when people are losing their jobs, savings, and houses at an alarming rate?

posted by sarahchivonne

Oct 14, 2008 12:16PM

amen ^^^

posted by guest

Oct 14, 2008 12:19PM

My thoughts exactly....Couldn't that money go somewhere a little more urgent?

posted by guest

Oct 14, 2008 12:25PM

Please- counterfeiting does affect the earth- china is the largest contributor to pollution on the earth- no OSHA no EPA (and by the way it was a reppublican -NIXon who stared the EPA OSHA highway safety act etc...... all democrats do is voter fraud and welfare

and counterfeiting affects everyone from designer who hires people to stores that hire peopel to sell etc... no bags beign sol no store clerks etc...no store clerk buying lunch at au bon pain etc.........

posted by guest

Oct 14, 2008 12:25PM

"Bush has been busy with more than just saving the country from financial implosion"

Yeah right. And what happened to the whole Republican spiel of less government oversight. That's like their whole basis of a party, and of course it was hypocritical disproved with the creation of the department of homeland security, and now adding ANOTHER department to monitor. Good one Bush --B

posted by fauvism3

Oct 14, 2008 12:26PM

Thank you! agree with everyone. I'm pretty sure Fendi would rather have the markets straighten out so that people will buy their goods, rather than sleep safe now the F21 will get fined making things people will STILL not buy in this global economy.

posted by gen

Oct 14, 2008 12:44PM

guest 5 - good point. it's kinda noticeable that they want less government oversight - EXCEPT when something is hurting the large companies who don't want to be overseen. it'd be lovely if this bill means that small & independent designers will claw back some lost income, but somehow i can only see this one helping the big names.

if their intentions were better, maybe bush's interest in this issue would be credible, but it just looks like corporate protectionism which, in the current climate, is a pretty bitter pill to swallow.

posted by romantics

Oct 14, 2008 12:54PM

Wait... really? Really?! Priorities, Mr. President. Priorities.

posted by bastylefilegirl

Oct 14, 2008 1:04PM

Actually counterfiting does have an effect on the economy at large, and in some cases support organized crime so I think it's something that should be law. However the fact that he is throwing these types of "darts at the wall" at this point in his presidency to do anything to make it "look good" and that our problems are way bigger than this it shows a lack of judgement and priorites.

posted by guest

Oct 14, 2008 1:05PM

All it will mean in practice is that the knock-offs will be very slightly different, won't have the exact logos, and will have slight variations on any copyrighted patterns. Most knock-off clothes do not violate any copyright laws, so even ramped up enforcement won't be able to do anything about it.

posted by guest

Oct 14, 2008 1:11PM

I think the bill is more of a response to the pressure from the music industry (record companies)and illegal distribution of music.

Good step for fashion but I think the focus is still going to stick with the music industry.

posted by guest

Oct 14, 2008 1:12PM

very cute people. the president does not read every bill that comes across his desk. they are thousands of pages long with stuff stuck in riders on the back that have nothing to do with the main subject. so he signed it, but may not in fact know what's in it.

posted by arcane

Oct 14, 2008 1:14PM

I know its Bush and nothing he does should be seen as remotely beneficial or it might topple our entire belief system, but really... its okay to recognize a good thing. Is it unimportant right now considering all thats going on? Sure. But it is by no means something negative, because it did need to happen at some point.

posted by guest

Oct 14, 2008 1:15PM

Okay, not that I am sticking up for Bush or anything, but hello, Government 101. It takes no time at all for a President to sign a bill. However, it is a very long process before the bill gets there. The legislators waste tons of time discussing the bill on the floors and in committees. So if you think the bill is stupid, blame the House and Senate for even giving it a hearing in the first place.

posted by guest

Oct 14, 2008 2:09PM

Do you people even know what a bill is? To say that the Prez has bigger priorities is just ignorant. The President doesn't control what bills make their way through both houses to his desk. For the bills to even make it to his desk is no small thing. If he does nothing, the bill disappears.

posted by guest

Oct 14, 2008 7:49PM

some how I don't think Bush signed the bill to help independent designers

posted by guest

Oct 14, 2008 10:02PM

The president does have some say in bills being passed. He can sign or vote out. And he DOES have bigger priorities. He's an idiot who clearly takes a huge part in our country's financial crisis. This bill is completely unimportant at this time. He's just in idiot. Period.

posted by guest

Oct 15, 2008 12:22AM

This really isn't counterfeiting because its not being sold as a fendi bag. I see your point with the bag above being too close to the original, but most of your subjects in this column are just interpretations of originals. They usually change the color, fabrics, and some details, making them not intending to deceive anyone. Sometimes, I think this column sounds like the scene in the Devil Wears Prada with the seven degrees connection from runway fashion to a K-mart cable knit sweater. Also anybody could tell the difference between a pleather forever 21 purse and fendi from 10 feet away. I don't think forever 21 is taking away from people who buy real fendi's. i'm happy that there is fashionable and affordable alternatives. It is the job of these companies to translate high fashion for the masses, it is only in recent years that middle class high school girls think they need to afford a louis. i think that this economy is making people reevaluate high fashion's place, not in your home, but on the runway. i think those who love and follow fashion should have an place they can buy affordable fashions of current runway trends instead of maxing their credit cards on real fendi bags or dressing in tank tops from abercrombie and fitch. Designer guest lines have helped this somewhat, but those are hard to get your hands on and cannot comprise a wardrobe.

posted by guest

Oct 15, 2008 2:45AM

We're all broke AND he's making this a priority close to the end of his term? what a guy.

posted by Karma

Oct 16, 2008 12:32PM

Did anyone actually read the fact sheet for the bill? I agree with comment #18. There is definitely no way to stop knockoffs. They are not exact imitations nor do they claim to be the designer goods. Anyone can copy another's design (in their own way). What they are trying to make against the law is having a counterfeit good. "Counterfeit" dictionary definition: "made in imitation so as to be passed off fraudulently or deceptively as genuine; not genuine; forged." Bottom line: knock offs will not be stopped. The photo of the bag above is a knock off...NOT a counterfeit.