Plagiarism, Trade-Dress and the Value of Design

The distinctive identity of a brand has enormous commercial importance. When a competitor copies that identity with a cheaper inferior product, it can jeopardize the heavy investment in creating and designing products. The identification of the original versus a plagiarized knockoff is a critical i...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tore Kristensen, Gorm Gabrielsen, Ricky Wilke, Judy Zaichowsky
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Vilnius University Press 2002-12-01
Series:Ekonomika
Online Access:https://www.journals.vu.lt/ekonomika/article/view/17016
Description
Summary:The distinctive identity of a brand has enormous commercial importance. When a competitor copies that identity with a cheaper inferior product, it can jeopardize the heavy investment in creating and designing products. The identification of the original versus a plagiarized knockoff is a critical issue in the marketplace. However; even when the identity is clear; a remaining issue is whether consumers are willing to pay a premium price for the original product. We use conjoint analysis to investigate the identification and valuation of an original vs. a copy. The willingness to pay for the original depends on the competence or knowledge of the consumer. We suggest ways of identifying “trade dress” by distinguishing among the utilitarian, systemic or symbolic aspects of a product.
ISSN:1392-1258
2424-6166