Knockoff fashion, trend-setting, and the creative economy

Conventional wisdom holds that copying kills creativity, and that laws that protect against copies are essential to innovation and economic success. But are copyrights and patents always necessary? Kal Raustiala and Christopher Sprigman approach the question of incentives and innovation in a wholly new way in The Knockoff Economy — by exploring creative fields where copying is generally legal, such as fashion, food, and even professional football.

The University of Virginia School of Law spoke with author Christopher Sprigman about the role of knockoffs in the fashion industry and their impact on the creative economy.