Whether you're looking for new furniture for your home or for your office, you can find replica designer furniture that will fit your budget and style. There are a number of benefits to buying reproductions, including high quality construction and durability. You can choose from thousands of retailers on the internet, making it easy to pick the right piece for your space. However, you'll need to be aware of the industry so you know what to expect.
The first issue to consider is that you'll pay significantly less for replicas than originals. This is a good thing for anyone who doesn't have a lot of money to spend on high-quality furniture. But it also means that you won't get the same return on your investment.
A second issue is that many replicas are poorly manufactured. Most are made in factories overseas, where the working conditions are questionable. The cost of manufacturing is often lower, but you can't always be sure that your replica will be produced to the highest quality standards. A third issue is that some replicas will have a similar aesthetic to the originals. You'll need to decide whether you want to buy a designer piece or an affordable non-designer piece.
If you're considering buying replicas, you'll have to decide if you're willing to spend a high amount of money on a copy of a luxury item. If you are, you should probably go with an unlicensed copy, which is significantly cheaper. You could, for example, pay $599 for an unlicensed replica of an Eames lounge chair. But you'd be better off spending that amount of money on a higher quality version of the same item.
The final issue is that a great deal of replica designer furniture is based on designs that haven't been registered. This means that the furniture may not have the same level of design protection as originals. The UK government has introduced legislation that would make it illegal to sell replicas of "artistic craftsmanship" that has not been registered. This law will take effect in 2016.
The new legislation will protect the copyright of designs for 70 years after the designer has died. This is an important change because it gives the designer and their estate more time to claim their rights to the designs. In the past, the UK had a 25-year period after the first year of manufacture to protect designs. This was supposed to continue until 2020. Unfortunately, some replicas have since expired registration, and other manufacturers can produce a replica of the same design at a more reasonable price.
Another issue is that the companies that produce replicas are not required to have a license to use the designs. The laws in Australia and the US only give you 10 years to register a design. In other western countries, you can be protected for up to 50 or even 75 years after the designer has died.
The Replica Furniture Association was formed in 2014 in response to negative press coverage about the closure of many furniture businesses. It is a collective of furniture manufacturers, and members must adhere to a code of ethics. In addition, each member has to provide proof of financial stability. In order to join the Replica Furniture Association, you must have a high customer satisfaction score. The company that created the group says it wants to make great design available to everyone.