"It is certainly a point that designers' creativity is far less protected than many other fields . . . or is it? I found interesting that the reference for design too often points to a narrow field of design, the highly priced furniture/home interior product design field or similar. In that fact there is certain arrogance to the discussion. Product design, industrial design, whatever the denomination you want to use, is a very broad field. While there are many instances of "fame" for some known designers who often happen to work on high priced items (design quality and intent being far more privileged in that context from its inception), there are far more designers equally creative who in actuality work for the everyday person, for the mass production of goods, or more directly for companies who will own the rights of their creativity, the products they design, their own creations. And in those numerous instances the designer's rights has already been sold-out, and further more the copyrights is in the hand of a third party to start with. So when Joe Aston gets upset about rip-offs, he is really upset about the devaluation of the product the owner or user get. Does the cheap knock-off devalue the original intent? Sure it does some. The best implementation is always preferable. But was that original intent pure of heart to start with, or already driven by a sense of luxury and privilege that still remains in the original make, and in essence are marketed to two very different group of people who can certainly make the difference themselves? If you own an original Eames chair (as it seems has become the only good reference of good design, the so called design lovers can speak of now days) you'll know and feel the difference. The saying remains, you get what you pay for. You can own an original Monet, or buy the poster. Certainly most can make the difference. With luck and talent, one can design for the awesomeness of great design, but cannot stop the fundamental good ideas from spreading to all, and that is a compliment in itself, and perhaps knockoffs are the best reward a designer can get."