Archetech Issue 24 2016 | Page 67

A CHANGE IN THE LAW How the Sudden 2016 Copyright Law Affects Businesses and Buyers London, 7th March – The UK Government has unexpectedly fast-tracked the 2020 deadline for businesses to stop selling replica furniture to April 2016. While the initial five years could have been sufficient for most people to make changes to their business and stock, the new deadline is likely to harm businesses and create further job losses. A Change in the Law The UK Government announced the repeal of Section 52 of the copyright, Designs & Patents Act in 2014: the copyright on furniture designs would be extended from 25 to 70 years after a designer’s death. The change in law will mean that most of the replica designs businesses are selling will become illegal. “It’s a sad time for design lovers everywhere. By abiding to the wishes of the furniture giants to hand over all the designs that were [email protected] | initially meant to be affordable, functional and beautiful for everyone, we’re losing more than just a legal battle. We’ll be completely out of touch with the visions of those (designers) before us “ (Fiaz Iqbal, CEO of Cult Furniture) One Businesses Fight While many businesses struggle to find ways to adapt and innovate within the new timeframe, the most logical step for Cult Furniture was to establish itself as a design studio. After learning about the possible law changes in 2014, Fiaz Iqbal put together his own in-house product design team to create Cult Designs: furniture inspired by iconic designs but with contemporary twists. “We firmly believe that everyone should have access to good design…. We hope to provide an alternative, to keep the vision of Eames alive: that good design should be affordable and for everyone, not just the rich and famous” Fiaz Iqbal, CEO of Cult Furniture 0208 150 3257 | www.cultfurniture.com New Moda Collection by Cult Furniture - Available Soon