Copying things: Good or Bad?

James Dyson, the British industrial designer, is struggling to stop other companies trying to sell their ripped-off copies of Dyson’s innovations. In a recent Court of Appeal case (2011), Dyson lost its claim against Vax, over the copying of its vacuum cleaners, despite having won the same case in France. "This was a senior patent judge suggesting copying things is a good thing. It’s a bad idea and if you think it increases competition you’re entirely wrong. If you uphold the law the plagiarists have to come up with new ideas", argues Dyson.